Last night's "Luminaries of the Game" gala raised $4M for Touchdown Houston -- the Super Bowl Host Committee's "charitable program benefiting local non-profits centered around education, health, and community enhancement." Former White House Chief of Staff JAMES BAKER teamed up with Super Bowl Host Committee President & CEO SALLIE SARGENT and Chair RIC CAMPO to "fill in the spanking new Marriott Marquis with more than 1,000 bold-faced names." Among them, some 51 Pro Football HOFers. None, however, were "celebrated within the same realm" as honorees as Texans Owner BOB MCNAIR and his wife, JANICE. NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL, Pro Football HOFer EARL CAMPBELL and former NFLer ANDRE JOHNSON were among those who "made special cameos" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/2).
GATHER ROUND: NFL Network's MIKE SILVER, Fox Sports' CHARISSA THOMPSON and ESPN's JEFF DARLINGTON last night hosted the annual Super Bowl Kickoff Party. NFLPA Exec Dir DEMAURICE SMITH, NFL Chief Content Officer JORDAN LEVIN, Fox’ ERIN ANDREWS, Falcons GM THOMAS DIMITROFF, Pro Football HOFer MICHAEL STRAHAN, Seahawks QB RUSSELL WILSON and Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI were among those in attendance (THE DAILY).
GET IN THE GAME: Tonight's party scene in Houston includes EA Sports' Super Bowl Party at the 62,500-square-foot portable venue, Club Nomadic, and will include musical performances from SNOOP DOGG, THE CHAINSMOKERS and SAM HUNT. The event will also feature rapper 2 CHAINZ, former NFLer CHAD JOHNSON, Cowboys QB DAK PRESCOTT and Chiefs CB ERIC BERRY competing in tournaments in both EA's "Madden '17" and "FIFA '17" (THE DAILY). Club Nomadic is still "working with the city of Houston to get up and running" in time for tonight's event. Sources said that producers for Club Nomadic and city officials met on Tuesday night to do an "eleventh-hour walkthrough." By yesterday, venue promoters had "purchased all required permits and were moving on to inspections and obtaining a certificate of occupancy" (PAGESIX.com, 2/1).
TONIGHT'S AGENDA: CultureMap, ESPN Radio and SB Nation tonight will present "The Big Texas Party" at Silver Street Studios. Former NFLers ED JONES and RANDY WHITE will host....Pro Football HOFer MIKE DITKA and ESPN's RON JAWORSKI will host their "Cigars with the Stars Party" at the Irish Cowboy....Pastorini's "Super Party" at Red Neck Country Club will have guests that include Pro Football HOFers JOE GREENE and Ditka. Proceeds from the event benefit Be An Angel, Bum Phillips Charities and Gridiron Greats...."The Players Party" at Sam Houston Race Park will include several music performances including country music artist HUNTER HAYES....Rapper DRAKE will be opening a pop-up strip club tonight for the Super Bowl weekend....The Legends for Charity Dinner at the Marriott Marquis will present NFL Network's RICH EISEN with the '17 Pat Summerall Award (THE DAILY).
