Glamorous locations, big names, awesome performances, and exclusivity are the name of the game when it comes to Super Bowl parties. But sometimes they live up to the hype and sometimes they don’t.
Hosts are trying out new venues for the first time, stages have to be thrown together, and details have to be sorted out before the main event. When fans shell out big bucks for tickets, they expect only the best. Here’s a look at how some of the most famous parties of Super Bowl 2018 went down…
The Maxim Party
Let’s start with the most ridiculous story first. Lost coats and sexual harassment were the theme of the evening at the infamous Maxim bash this year – yeah, things got a little out of control. Post Malone, Marshmello, and Cardi B were performing, the booze at Karma’s open bar was flowing, and all might’ve seemed okay. Except one of the models at the party recorded everything that went wrong that night and relayed it to the world…
Included in her list were the overserved patrons and the bathrooms (well, bathroom trailers) that closed too early – like way before the party was over. Guests had to navigate slippery steps in the dark (often in heels) to use bathrooms located out in the cold. She says the food ran low, there weren’t enough places to sit, and many of the models reported groping from male guests.
Oh, and apparently someone didn’t know how to properly run a coat check, so lots of attendees were left to face the Minnesota winter without their jackets at the end of the evening. She sums up the night by calling it a “sad nightclub environment in a dingy warehouse.” Despite all that, rap trio Migos showed up, along with music producer Marshmello, and NFL players like Cameron Jordan of the Saints, Josh Norman of the Redskins, and Travis Kelce of the Chiefs. But yes, a lot of people lost their coats…
The Armory
Concerts at the revamped Armory venue in Minneapolis fulfilled their promise for a big night out. Stars like NFL quarterback Kurt Warner and artist Sheila E. came out to see P!nk at her sold-out concert on Friday. She performed all her hits, giving fans a preview of her upcoming tour and even did a few aerial acrobatics during the encore despite battling the flu. Some concertgoers said this show was better than her performance at the Grammys.
Imagine Dragons also headlined a show at The Armory on Thursday night, making it the biggest gig in Minneapolis that evening. Despite the weather, EA Sports attempted to set up a glitzy red carpet outside for celebs and photo ops, though lots of people laughed at the idea of standing out in the freezing cold for too long. UFC fighter Demetrious Johnson and Steelers player Le’Veon Bell attended, and hip-hop group Migos and Machine Gun Kelly also showed up to play a couple hits.
And don’t forget J.Lo! She performed at The Armory – sponsored by DIRECTV and AT&T – on Saturday night, bringing moves from her Vegas show, high energy tunes, dancers, and pyrotechnics along with her. Hits like “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” and “Get Right” were among her 90-minute set. In between songs, DJ Khaled spun some jams, and Ne-Yo showed up to rap with her. She wore eight different outfits, performed a few Prince covers, and even debuted her new song that’s dedicated to A-Rod. (How sweet!)
High ceilings and solid acoustics added to the experience. The renovations of the 8,400-person venue which restored it (almost) to its former grandeur impressed guests and made some consider the possibility of returning for future performances. Kinda makes you wonder what Club Nomadic would have been like if they’d been able to finish it up…
The Playboy Party
Synonymous with Super Bowl festivities, Playboy is known for hosting one of the most rowdy and glamorous parties every year. Though the vibe is a little different than back when it was celeb-packed and invite-only, it’s still one of the most famous parties in town. The Big Game Bash was hosted this year at Privé and Snoop Dogg performed onstage (and posed with the bunnies) as DJ Snoopadelic. He played Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” around 1:30 AM while crowds raged.
But something went wrong with the coat check here too. According to reporters, Playboy bunnies were left stranded in the cold when they couldn’t find their coats. Left in only their bunny costumes in 2-degree temps, at least one of them ended up in tears. Other guests fought over coats and/or found theirs missing while the whole coat check area devolved into chaos. The party, however, carried on until the early hours of the morning on Sunday and was generally deemed a success!
Rolling Stone
Migos was everywhere this weekend, and the Rolling Stone party was no exception (it makes sense – they were just recently on the cover of the music mag). The hip-hop artists headlined this party at International Market Square in Minneapolis on Friday night, along with other musical guests like T-Pain, DJ Cassidy, and 21 Savage.
Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz with cocktails by Crown Royal and Ace of Spade, celebs came out for the party too. It was seriously packed with stars. Cardi B, Rachel Platten, Busta Rhymes, Odell Beckham Jr., Emmitt Smith, Tim Tebow, Aly Raisman, and Ray Lewis were all there to watch. Even Dr. Oz showed up! Rolling Stone partnered with TIDAL to steam all the performances to the public live. You could pose alongside luxury cars and drink top shelf whiskey while you spotted celebrities, that is, if you could get into this mostly invite-only affair.
Leather & Laces
Hosted by Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg, Leather & Laces helped kick off the Super Bowl parties with a performance by Flo Rida. Taking place in the city’s North Loop neighborhood, the party drew stars like the Vikings’ Steve Weatherly and Kevin Sorbo from TV’s Hercules.
There were virtual reality games on deck and a busy dance floor and red carpet. Oh, and Jenny McCarthy had blue hair. The party had sponsors like Bacardi, Grey Goose, and Bud Light, as well as acrobatic dancers suspended above crowds on aerial silks and jams by DJ Automatic. Known for being a little more classy and a little less sloppy (as these events go, anyway), there was no coat check chaos to report.
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