Representing the Nuggets, Vandeweghe played in the All-Star Game in 1984, the most recent time the event was staged in Denver. He's excited the game will return to the city in 2005.

"It's great," he said. "We have great fans. The city will do a fantastic job. We have facilities that are second to none."

The official awarding of the game to Denver will come at a news conference at 4 p.m. Monday at the Pepsi Center. NBA commissioner David Stern will be a featured speaker, as will Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke. David Ehrlich, executive vice president for Kroenke Sports, said Mayor-elect John Hickenlooper also has been invited.

Ehrlich said the licensing agreement for the game was signed Thursday by city officials and will be signed today by NBA officials. That will culminate a process that has been in motion since last summer.

"We're really excited now," Ehrlich said. "But the work is just beginning."