drawing card
Someone used to attract a crowd to an event. Bill Gates was definitely the drawing card for the computer security conference this year.
drawing card
Fig. an attraction that helps bring patrons to a place of entertainment. The comedian was a real drawing card at the night club.
drawing card
A feature or event that attracts a large audience. For example, This Italian tenor is always a good drawing card. Card in this idiom refers to a large poster containing an advertisement for something, often some sort of entertainment. [Late 1800s]