Ludacris (c) played his first of several shows this weekend with Young Jeezy (l) and T.I. (r) on ThursdayGETTY IMAGES
The three-day Super Bowl Music Fest "kicked off" on Thursday night, as LUDACRIS, YOUNG JEEZY and T.I. performed at the Hawks' State Farm Arena for "thousands of Atlantans." Ludacris also brought on JERMAINE DUPRI to do his '01 hit song "WELCOME TO ATLANTA" (AJC.com, 1/31). Meanwhile, FOO FIGHTERS frontman DAVE GROHL, a longtime friend of the ZAC BROWN BAND, on Thursday night "joined his old pals" at the close of their 75-minute Tabernacle performance in front of 2,500 fans. Zac Brown Band "effortlessly rolled through a set that concentrated on the biggest songs of their vast catalog and a handful of other covers" (AJC.com, 1/31).
JUST IN TIME: CAA found the venue for its annual Super Bowl party this year this past Sunday, just four days before the event. With more than 700 revelers planning to attend, the agency needed a bigger space. The Patriots and CBS had plans for Thursday night parties at The Roof at Ponce City Market. But both released their holds, and it became available to CAA. Guests included Bills QB JOSH ALLEN, WFAN’s MIKE FRANCESA, NFL Network’s MELISSA STARK, Fox Sports Exec VP/Content CHARLIE DIXON and Barstool Sports CEO ERICA NARDINI (THE DAILY).
THURSDAY GATHERINGS: Agent SANDY MONTAG held his annual Super Bowl party at the Barcelona Wine Bar -- Inman Park with a who’s who of attendees, including CBS Sports Chair SEAN MCMANUS and President DAVID BERSON, ESPN Senior VP/Production Business Divisions TRAUG KELLER, NBC's MIKE TIRICO, CBS’ IAN EAGLE and NFL Network’s DAN HELLIE. Meanwhile, at Tavernpointe in Midtown, 16W Marketing’s annual Super Bowl shindig, hosted by agency founders FRANK VUONO and STEVE ROSNER, included on-air talent like PHIL SIMMS and LESLIE VISSER, as well as many business names, including NBC Sports & Broadcasting Chair MARK LAZARUS and the Pro Football HOF’s DAVID BAKER (THE DAILY). Read about more SB LIII happenings with SBJ's "All-Access" from Atlanta.
BIG DIESEL BRINGS THE FUN: DJ TIESTO, T-PAIN, MIGOS, LIL JON and others will appear at SHAQUILLE O’NEAL's Fun House festival on Friday night, with O'Neal "scheduled to perform with members of Cirque du Soleil." The party at The Battery Atlanta is being "billed as part circus, part carnival and part concert." The party will also "feature a full carnival midway, a Waffle House pop-up dinner and circus performers." Ticket prices range from $249.99-999.99 (USA TODAY, 2/1).
STARTING IT OFF: The World of Coca-Cola will kick off Super Bowl weekend with a "Champions Chat" featuring "MEAN" JOE GREENE and CARL BANKS, and will be moderated by DESMOND HOWARD. The event take places Friday from 2:15-3:00pm and tickets cost $13-17 (AJC.com, 1/31). A Detroit couple "landed a deal with the NFL to bring their popular Shop Talk community forum to Super Bowl weekend in Atlanta." Shop Talk, which launched in '13, brings Detroiters together in a barbershop to "talk about entrepreneurship, politics, sports, race and more." During Super Bowl weekend, the couple will "host a discussion with past and current NFL members" and the conversation will be moderated by GREG JENNINGS. NFL Exec VP/Football Operations TROY VINCENT and two other NFL players "yet to be revealed will also guide the discussion." The invitation-only event takes place Friday (FREEP.com, 1/16).
WILD WEEKEND AHEAD: SNOOP DOGG and LIL WAYNE will headline at an SI and Talent Resources Sports bash (with a VIP area by Hyde Sunset) on Saturday starting at 9:00pm at the College Football HOF. Foo Fighters will take over DirecTV's Super Saturday Night with RUN THE JEWELS. FUTURE and DIPLO take over Maxim's Big Game Experience on Saturday at the Fairmont starting at 9:00pm, and Ludacris will play Rolling Stone's annual extravaganza on Saturday (NYPOST.com, 1/26).
SUPER BOWL PREGAME: TIM MCGRAW will headline the Super Bowl pregame festivities on Sunday at the NFL Tailgate Party. Earlier in the day, ALOE BLACC will perform at the event and will be joined onstage by local group DAVID WALKER & HIGH PRAISE for a live televised performance on CBS' "THE SUPER BOWL TODAY" (THE DAILY). A trio of parties for guests who purchased a VIP On Location package for Super Bowl LIII will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center on Sunday: On the Fifty with JOHN FOGERTY and a surprise guest; Legends Club with DAUGHTRY and the DOUG FLUTIE BAND; and 53 Live with DJ RUCKUS and THE JACKS. A tailgate menu curated by Top Chef winner JOE FLAMM will be available along with the opportunity to mingle with familiar NFL names, as MARCUS ALLEN is hosting at the Legends Club and JESSE PALMER will helm On the Fifty (AJC.com, 1/23).
