LAS VEGAS – For years, Las Vegas was the best place to be if you weren’t one of the lucky fans to score a ticket to the Super Bowl. Depending on the host city and the competitiveness of the game, some might argue it’s still the best place to be even if you got a ticket given Sin City’s seemingly never-ending selection of sportsbooks, casinos, lounges and clubs where you can watch and wager on the “Big Game.”
For the first-time ever the Super Bowl is taking place in Las Vegas and it’s shaping to be as crazy as you might think. The city will be inundated with everyone from hardcore fans in town for the game to party-goers who don’t know anything about football except for the fact that Taylor Swift is dating Travis Kelce.
Most of the people descending upon Las Vegas for the Super Bowl don’t have a ticket for the game with nosebleed seats costing around $8,000. Then again, that’s chump change if you want to party like a baller on Super Bowl Saturday night at “Sports Illustrated The Party” where you can book an owner’s table for $125,000, an upper dance floor table for $80,000 or a back wall table for $25,000 to see The Chainsmokers and Kygo at the Wynn. That same night across the street at Resorts World you could drop anywhere from $54,000 to $108,000 for a table to see 21 Savage and 50 Cent at the Maxim Casino Royale Experience. If you’re trying to ball on a budget, we’ll tell you how you can get into both of those parties for less than $300 or tailgate before the Super Bowl with Guy Fieri for free. More on that later.
While the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs will arrive in Las Vegas a week before the game, most fans and party-goers won’t get into town until Wednesday, which is when the parties begin.
Wednesday, February 7
Fred Minnick & Friends’ Big Game Bourbon
World-renowned bourbon expert, bestselling author and podcast host Fred Minnick, will host a party starting at 5 p.m. at the Foundation Room on the 63rd floor of the Mandalay Bay along with Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson. The Raiders great has his own bourbon (Woodson Whisky) and wine (Charles Woodson’ Intercept), which can be found at Allegiant Stadium, the home of this year’s Super Bowl. Vanderpump Rules’ Tom Sandoval will deliver opening remarks and bartend a pop-up cocktail hour blind bourbon tasting and a live taping of The Fred Minnick Show. The musical guest will be country artist Michael Ray. Proceeds from the event will benefit Las Vegas veterans’ charity Forgotten Not Gone.
Thursday, February 8
Ditka & Jaws Cigars with Stars
A Super Bowl week staple for over a decade, “Ditka & Jaws Cigars with Stars” will return this year hosted by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski and former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who will be taking the place of Bears’ legend Mike Ditka. After suffering a heart attack in 2018, the 84-year-old Ditka has stayed away from the limelight. This year’s event will take place at the M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson, Nev., which is near the Las Vegas Raiders’ headquarters and training facility. The VIP cigar party will feature premium cigars and cocktails and a confirmed list of football legends that includes hall of famers Andre Reed, Eric Dickerson, Marcus Allen, Barry Sanders, Warren Moon and Lawrence Taylor.
Paramount Expedition Vegas: Journey to the Peak
Paramount Global is bringing the ultimate entertainment expedition to Las Vegas in this free massive, four-day event taking place at The Mirage from Thursday to Sunday. Paramount promises to “immerse fans in their favorite Paramount films and series as they ascend the legendary Paramount Mountain.”
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver “The Playmaker” Michael Irvin will be front and center at the third annual Playmakers Party at the Azilo Ultra Lounge and Pool at the recently renovated Sahara Las Vegas.
The party will benefit Hounds and Heroes, a nonprofit founded by former Cowboys Cheerleader and Los Angeles Lakers scout, Bonnie Jill-Laflin. The Steve Fowler-produced event always is good for a surprise or two. Last year renowned DJ Paul Oakenfold performed and the year before that Lil Jon took the stage for a DJ set. The guest list for this year’s party includes Terrell Owens, Larry Fitzgerald, Josh Dobbs, Ju Ju Smitth-Schuster and a bevy of FHM models as the men’s lifestyle magazine is a presenting sponsor.
Friday, February 9
EA Sports Presents The Madden Bowl
The Madden Bowl is once again back to host one of the best parties during Super Bowl week. The annual event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the House of Blues and will feature the conclusion of the most played season in Madden NFL Championship Series history. The party will be headlined by performances from Green Day, Big Boi and Killer Mike and BRELAND.
Country singer and songwriter Zach Bryan and Grammy-winner Leon Bridges will be performing at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas at 9 p.m. Bud Light is an NFL sponsor and the concert is the beginning of a new partnership between Bryan and Bud Light as the company looks to expand its reach into country music.
The h.wood Group, Uncommon Entertainment and AG Production Services are once again teaming up to host an over-the-top two-night Super Bowl Party on Friday and Saturday. The group will be taking over a vacant lot across from the Wynn to build a custom 45,000-square-foot megastructure built to capture old school Las Vegas. Dave Guetta and Future will be the headline performers on Friday.
Is there anything Shaquille O’Neal can’t do? The hall of famer and Lakers great said he would like to bring an NBA team to Las Vegas and now he wants to throw the biggest Super Bowl party in Las Vegas too. This is the sixth year that O’Neal will be hosting his Shaq’s Fun House party before the Super Bowl. He will be bringing his immersive carnival with rides and games to the XS nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas. Headliners for the party, which starts at 10 p.m., include Lil Wayne, Diplo and DJ Diesl, which is O’Neal’s DJ name. The party is the first of four Super Bowl week events being put on by Medium Rare co-founders Joe Silberzweig & Adam Richman, who have attracted a dozen sponsors ranging from Celsius to Pluto TV. The party’s guest list over the years has included Jack Harlow, Jeremy Renner, Adam Levine, Jamie Foxx, Tiffany Haddish, Nate Diaz, Rob Gronkowski, Floyd Mayweather, Migos and Allen Iverson.
Saturday, February 10
Anyone who has been to Las Vegas recently will tell you the day clubs and parties now rival the night clubs and parties and four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski is planning on throwing the biggest day party before the Super Bowl. Gronk Beach will take place at Encore Beach Club starting at 12 p.m. The headline performers at this year’s party will be Afrojack, Flo Rida, DJ Irie and Dante. The party has attracted big names in the past such as The Chainsmokers, Kaskade, 21 Savage and Rick Ross.
Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party
Not only is Leigh Steinberg a super-agent who inspired the movie Jerry Maguire and currently represents Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is playing in his fourth Super Bowl in five years and going for his third title, but he is the godfather of the Super Bowl party scene. Steinberg’s Super Bowl party has been a fixture of Super Bowl weekend dating back to Super Bowl XIX played at Stanford Stadium in 1985. Steinberg will host his party this year at the new Ahern Hotel in Las Vegas. The party will include a celebrity poker tournament hosted by World Series of Poker champion Jamie Gold and the guest list includes many of Steinberg’s former clients such as Troy Aikman, Steve Young and Warren Moon. There will also be a Brain Health Summit before the beginning of the party as Steinberg was one of the first agents to publicly talk about the dangers of concessions and CTE.
The Taste of the NFL has been one of the staples of Super Bowl week for years and will take place at the Keep Memory Alive Event Center in Las Vegas starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The event is annually the Super Bowl’s largest purpose-driven culinary event with net proceeds benefiting GENYOUth, which tackles youth hunger and food insecurity. This year’s event will feature world class chefs Andrew Zimmern, Cara Hall, Tim Love, Lasheeda Perry, March Bucker and NFL Legends and players.
Michelob Ultra is taking over TopGolf Las Vegas to throw one of the biggest parties of the weekend hosted by Dan Marino and Alex Morgan. Lil Wayne, T-Pain and Alesso are schedule to perform across two stages throughout the 3,000-person venue. There will also be a celebrity golf shootout and a star-studded guest list that in the past has included Serena Williams, DJ Khaled, Offset and Canelo Alvarez.
The h.wood Group, Uncommon Entertainment and AG Production Services are once again teaming up to host an over-the-top two-night Super Bowl Party on Friday and Saturday. The group will be taking over a vacant lot across from the Wynn to build a custom 45,000-square-foot megastructure built to capture old school Las Vegas. Jack Harlow and Kaytranada with a DJ set by Zack Bia will headline Saturday’s party.
The Maxim Casino Royale Experience
For years, the Maxim party has been one of the best parties during Super Bowl week and this year looks like it will be no exception with 21 Savage and 50 Cent headlining the event at Resorts World. There will also be performances by Elderbrook, DJ Shift, Plastik Funk and DJ unKommon. The event is making headlines for offering a $1,000,000 Ace of Spades package for up to 10 guests, which includes private jet transportation from anywhere in the continental United States, a suite at Resorts World Las Vegas, a $75,000 casino credit, a nightly $10,000 dining credit at Resorts World, all-access passes to the Maxim Casino Royale Experience, 10 tickets to the Super Bowl located on the 50-yard line and on-field access both before and after the game.
One of the most talked about parties each year is Sports Illustrated The Party and this year it will take place at the XS nightclub at the Wynn headlined by The Chainsmokers and Kygo. In the past, the party has attracted A-listers such as Shaquille O’Neal, Ciara, Russell Wilson, Jeff Bexos and Kevin Hart.
Sunday, February 11
Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate
One of the more fun recent Super Bowl traditions and easily the most affordable (it’s FREE!) is Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate. It’s a food festival combined with a music festival featuring over 20 restaurant pop-ups and custom Guy Fieri creations with Diplo and Dustin Lynch performing. It will take place behind the High Roller and The Linq Promenade, adjacent to the Caesars Forum.
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay will host the 10th Players Tailgate party adjacent to the Mandalay Bay and walking distance to Allegiant Stadium before the Super Bowl. The event will be emceed by former ESPN anchor Sage Steele with music by DJ Irie. The ticketed event will start at 11 a,m, and include over 50 active NFL players and celebrities as well as gourmet dishes and craft cocktails prepared by celebrity chefs from around the country
