Who's Going Where: Espy Awards Move to Nokia, Early Events Blanket L.A.

ESPN's Espy awards will take to the 7,000-plus-seat Nokia Theatre on July 16 (and air on July 20), after a move from the Kodak, where the show had been for the previous six years. (ESPN has signed a multiyear deal with the Nokia, according to the sports-news Web site.) Justin Timberlake will host the show.

The related events are getting started early around town. ESPN the Magazine's "Espy Style Studio" will host athletes and celebs at the Standard downtown for a three-day gifting suite from July 14 through 16. The mag will set up on the the third floor of the hotel with brands like Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley, Skull Candy headphones, Under Armour apparel, and Tigi Bed Head products. The “Play-Action suite" will feature cocktails by Lotus vodka and Greg Norman sparkling wines, plus the chance to play EA Sports' NCAA Football 09 at game stations, while DJ Prophet and Rico DeLargo entertain.The second annual Playboy Mansion kickoff party will take over the mansion on Monday to promote the Blu-ray disc-compatible Sony PlayStation3. Media and V.I.P.s will have access to a Playstation-packed "Blu lounge" surrounding the pool and grotto, where they can check out demos of new PS3 titles as well as movies and concerts newly released on Blu-ray. Sony Corporate Entertainment of America and the Digital Entertainment Group will sponsor.

And after the taping on July 16, New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce and teammates will host a party at Mood on Hollywood Boulevard. (The Giants are nominated for a total of six awards, including best game for the Super Bowl.)