LOS ANGELES ( Associated Press) – Rob Gronkowski may have retired from the NFL, but the former pro footballer is still in the game through championship week.
The four-time Super Bowl winner – who calls himself the game’s Most Valuable Player – will host a music festival called “Gronk Beach” in Phoenix on Saturday, the day before the big game. The beach-themed day party included appearances from 21 Savage, Lil Jon and Diplo.
After hosting the event in Miami and Las Vegas, Gronkowski said there would now be a celebrity pool volleyball competition. The party will be held at the Talking Stick Resort – which will host Shaquille O’Neal’s “Shaq’s Fun House” on Friday and Sports Illustrated’s The Party later on Saturday.
“The event brings a whole new dynamic to partying,” Gronkowski said. “Anybody can go to a high school or college style basement party. But when you get older, you love theme parties. You go in and see the beach, you see the volleyball, the stage. It’s like heaven. “
In addition to Gronkowski’s pre-Super Bowl show between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, there will be concerts by some of music’s biggest stars, including Drake, Cardi B, Snoop Dogg, Patti LaBelle, Kane Brown and Machine Gun Kelly.
Here are some of the events from the busy week leading up to the Super Bowl:
Shaq’s Funhouse
O’Neal’s carnival-themed celebration will score a touchdown of its own on Friday in downtown Phoenix.
As in previous years, the former NBA player – better known as DJ Diesel – pulled off a fun-filled event with a human-carrying claw machine, a Ferris wheel and an 80-foot slide (24 m). expects. Snoop Dogg and Diplo will star.
“We want to have a good time. We know we have to get better every year, that’s what happens when you win a championship. The first time we did it it was a championship and it was good. Now we’re going to do it back-to-back.” —back, so we want to go down in history as the best Super Bowl party in the history of all Super Bowl parties.”
Gospel Fest
Buffalo Bills forward Isaiah McKenzie and his team lay low in the post season, but the footballer hopes to stand in a performance with the NFL Players Choir in a soulful celebration of the Super Bowl.
Along with the choir, Patti LaBelle, Israel Houghton, Kiera Sheard and Ty Tribbett will perform at the Mesa Arts Center. The event, founded by Melanie Few, will honor Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who will receive the “Faith in Action” award that recognizes current and former NFL players who have made a positive impact in their communities.
The theme of the event which blends comedy, football and positive motivation is “Unstoppable”.
LaBelle said, “I want to sing my lungs out with my band, my singers and just praise God.” “I’m praying for the Eagles to win.”
Taste of Flavortown
Guy Fieri hopes to create the Super Bowl’s biggest culinary event yet.
For those who won’t be able to see the first game, the Fiery Cow’s Flavortown Tailgate, a parking lot offers lunch. It’s a family-friendly appointment that’s expected to attract around 10,000 fans.
Fieri will curate more than 15 restaurant and bar experiences, along with performances from Diplo and LOCASH. The event will take place next door to State Farm Stadium, where the Chiefs and Eagles will meet.
Fieri said, “We have the best sport in the world and it’s something everybody dreams of, but not everybody can get into a stadium.” “So I thought why not have lunch in the parking lot? Many people prefer to go to this type of food rather than to the game. This type of lunch usually does not happen at the Super Bowl due to the use of the parking lot. But we’re right across the street from the stadium. We’ll have a free party from 11 to 4:30 so you can experience the Super Bowl.”
Bud Light Music Fest
Paramore and The Bleachers headline the opening night of the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest on Thursday. The three-night festival celebrates its fourth year at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns.
The following night features performances by the Dave Matthews Band with guest DJ Pee Wee (Anderson.Pak). Imagine Dragons and Kane Brown kick off the festivities on Saturday night.
micheleob ultra x netflix
Serena Williams and Brian Cox will host the Super Bowl after-party for the premiere of the documentary “Full Swing.”
Michelob Ultra and Netflix teamed up to celebrate the next generation in golf culture with appearances from O’Neal, Lori Harvey, DJ Khaled, Nneka Ogwumike and Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez. The event will feature performances by Offset and DJ PV.
even more
Drake is expected to perform at the private Homecoming Weekend event at Scottsdale’s Hangar One luxury private jet complex. On Saturday night, The Chainsmokers and Machine Gun Kelly will headline the Sports Illustrated Party.
G-Eazy will headline the W Scottsdale Super Weekend on Thursday night, and Cardi B will perform the following night. Ludacris will make the series finale on Saturday.
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Associated Press writer John Carucci contributed to this report
