NFL-Las Vegas party scene peaks ahead of Super Bowl

Sphere Entertainment

10/02/2024 22:55

By Rory Carroll
       LAS VEGAS, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Las Vegas, the premier
party town in the U.S., is relishing its role as a first-time
Super Bowl host, welcoming fans from all over the country eager
to be part of America's biggest sporting event. 
    Traffic on the Las Vegas Strip has been at a near standstill
in recent nights as an influx of several hundred thousand
football fanatics descend on the city in anticipation of the
title clash between San Francisco and Kansas City.
    Rapper Lil Wayne electrified a pre-Super Bowl party hosted
by Shaquille O'Neal on Friday at XS nightclub, where the NBA
legend worked the turntables before celebrated American DJ Diplo
took over.
    Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar delivered a mesmerizing set for
a star-studded crowd in a massive pop-up tent along the Strip on
Thursday, where Formula One's Daniel Ricciardo was on hand to
unveil the now-rebranded Visa Cash App RB team.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N3EU0FX
    Post Malone is set to perform "America the Beautiful" at the
Super Bowl on Sunday and warmed up by playing a show at the Uber
sponsored The One party at Fontainebleau on Friday night. 
    And fun-loving former New England Patriots tight end Rob
Gronkowksi was due to host his annual Gronk Beach party on
Saturday at the Encore Beach Club at the Wynn.  
    Also on Saturday evening Irish rockers U2 were set to
perform as part of their residency at the futuristic Sphere, a
stunning new addition to the Las Vegas skyline.
    All week the giant glowing orb has been busy promoting the
game with its massive LED exterior displaying the helmets of the
teams, highlights of the matchup and a countdown clock to
kickoff.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N3ET3MS 
    All eyes are on the skies in anticipation of the expected
arrival of pop superstar Taylor Swift into the city to cheer on
her boyfriend and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. 
    Las Vegas, a city that for years did not have any
professional sports teams, has recently become the go-to
destination for leagues. 
    The NHL's Vegas Golden Knights proved sports franchises
could thrive in the Nevada desert when they began playing at
T-Mobile Arena in 2017, and the Aces are repeat WNBA champions. 
    The Super Bowl will be held at Allegiant Stadium, home of
the Las Vegas Raiders, Formula One held the Las Vegas Grand Prix
along the Strip in November and intends to do so for the next
decade.
    

 (Reporting by Rory Carroll, editing by Ed Osmond)
 ((Rory.Carroll@thomsonreuters.com Follow me on Twitter
@rorydcarroll; 503-830-8017;))