While the championship game brought Hollywood and New York’s elite and all of the major boys in branding and business to Phoenix Arizona, the real show took place in Scottsdale. It takes a village to host the Super Bowl in your city. The savvy and sophisticated Scottsdale did just that. The host magazine of The Super Bowl, 944 Magazine built the very central 944 Super Village in the center of Scottsdale, right in the thick of it, in the trendy waterfront area amidst hi restaurants and chic boutiques. The Trump and his vodka played a large part as a major player in the village where his vodka was on pour.
The 944 Super Village not only hosted its own series of parties, celebrity poker matches and fashion shows were the Football players wives showed their men and the fashion forward crowd how to work it, it also served up some sporty action of it’s own.
Celebrity Beach Bowl with a celebrity football match pairing unisex celebs, players from both sides of the gender fence from Stacy Keibler, Med Men’s January Jones and Brooke Mueller (Two and A Half Men’s Charlie Sheen’s soon to be better half), David Spade and Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) and veteran football players, finished off by a concert from Ashley Simpson’s BF’s band, Fall Out Boy.
That was only the scratching of the celebrity concert surface as every night, the 944 Village had some super talent throwing a Super Bowl super party filled with mega music talent and celebrity antics.
Several celebs graced the 944 stages from Wyclef, Cece Penniston, Juliette and the Licks, Velevet Revolver & others. Opening night, Paris who graced the 944 covers, with a pair of panties only and a hat, was on stage tearing it up alongside, the fearless 50 Cent. Later in the weekend, Ms. Hilton was seen rocking a $50,000 diamond watch from one of the gifting suites and applying lipstick, giving face time only to herself, oblivious to everything around her except her entourage.
Entourage’s own, Adrien Grenier was caught, in a scene similar to his series, up in the action, trying to escape from one particularly out of control Scottsdale soiree up in The Hills. On the other side of the sophisticate fence, there was The Taste of the NFL, a true fusion where food and football met and every one got in on the action.
The weekend attracted the likes of Lawrence Fishburne, Regina King, Tom Arnold, Alicia Keys, Kate Hudson, Jim Carey, Patty LaBelle, Ryan Seacrest and Brady’s Lady Giselle, to name, but a few that populated the gifting suites to the hot Hollywood ticket galas anchored and hosted by talents such as John Travolta, Chris Rock and Carmen Electra to concert experiences served up by super star talents Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dog, 50 Cent and LUDA!
Similar to Sundance, except there was sand and not snow and football in place of films, but like The Redford fest, there are parties all over town with celebs and scenesters, major money makers and plenty of booty shakers from the classy Victoria’s Secret models to the Playboy Bunnies and The Deal or No Deal crew.
Several celebs and execs were noted for coming to town just for the parties. They flew out early Sunday morning in time to catch the game in their own home on their flat screen TV.
Here’s a slice of the good life, the weekend that was where pop culture met fashion, film and football. Where the playas were as big off the field as they were on. It didn’t matter if you won or lose. On Super Bowl weekend it’s all about how you play the game.
Party People – Super (Bowl) Spirit
Several media outlets and their beverage sponsors vied for the affections of elite partygoers from celebrities, star athletes, media moguls and high rollers willing to shell out dough to be a part of the action even if they didn’t necessarily hold tickets to the game.
The beer-sponsored events like Coors had a popular appeal as they shut down a whole street for the fest open to the public willing to by a ticket. It was good ol’ down home fun with a live band and a group that was a live wire.
Hennessy set up an exclusive “house” in the Scottsdale hills for their gathering and hot new vodka with a woman CEO made a stunning debut at Taste of the NFL, as did many great American wines.
Snow Queen Vodka hosted Carmen Electra’s party at the Corporate Galleria and Cuervo hosted the Playboy party at a ranch 45 minutes far, far and away from Scottsdale. Not worries as Cuervo provided rides home for the over-imbibed.
The Patron Spirits Company clearly had their plays worked out in advance as they scored many points with their involvement at some of the Majors, the biggest parties of the weekend from Maxim to Playboy, Sports Illustrated and John Travolta’s Gala.
Sporty Spirit
The Sports Illustrated event at “it” club Barcelona used the arena’s vast layout to their advantage. Patron Tequila traveled well throughout the club Barcelona with superb margaritas, assisted by Citronge. Pyrat Rum gracefully anchored the venue’s end zone with a Mojito room where spectators could shake things up learning how to make their own cocktail magic. Patron Café XO dazzled with its own move—a sweets room with the liqueur woven into pastries and dessert drinks. Rookie Ultimate Vodka also had a good game. The club was jumping with a live band several sporty ESPN execs and several Scottsdale party peeps.
Play-by-Play Action
You could have referred to Matt Leinart’s celebrity charity football game staged by 944 Magazine, one of the fastest-growing publishing empires in the U.S., as “The Game Next Door,” with Playboy’s own version Sporty Spice, the adorable Kendra Wilkenson who wowed everyone, including veteran NFL super star, super fast Doug Flutie in her performance on the field. She even stole the limelight from Fall Out Boy, which staged a concert following the game.
What impressed us was her past game performance. Kendra, the resident athlete of The Girls Next Door—one of Hef’s 3 resident Girlfriends, turned reality super star, wowed us with her wit, intelligent repartee and down to earth girl next door appeal in ESPN’s hospitality tent backstage. Equally impressive were the Playboy Bunnies in the stand who raved about Kendra’s successes and how being a bunny was like being in a supportive Hollywood sorority. Who knew?
A Tasteful Outfield
There were plenty of party options to play around with throughout the weekend. But the official kick off to Super Bowl Weekend was The Big Ticket Gala held at the famed and luxurious Phoenician Hotel. It was s part of one of The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee’s official events. The Host committee catered those with the big bucks, which could pay for big tickets and big events throughout the Super Bowl weekend.
It’s like being a high roller in Vegas. There are privileges. At The Big ticket, Boston’s own Jay Leno threw down the big laughs for the high rollers and ex Howie Long, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Bart Starr, Gale Sayers and many others.
The Taste of the NFL was a touchdown for the palette. It was a very tastefully done event with food booths from each of the US football team’s city, Philly New York Chicago, Miami San Diego, etc. At each booth there was a featured and famed restaurant from the city serving up a signature dish while a retired player from the city’s team was on site signing a helmet, which would later be auctioned off for charity. It was good food, good fun and a great cause.
A Coming Attraction
High rollers, players and playa’s aside, Super Bowl weekend presented the mighty W Hotel group to stage their coming out party for their Scottsdale enclave, even though the property was months away from opening its doors. The most glamorous construction site in the Southwestern U.S., The W Scottsdale, hosted a VIP Lounge for the Axis/Radius venue for celebs and scenseters to hang out in while watching performances by P Diddy alongside Nick Lachey opening night, Kid Rock on Friday and Snoop on Saturday night. Cocktails were flowing and Sushi Roku was the bite of choice.
Hard Coor Fun!
Our boy Ben at Fusion Group was on deck at Vice the Party at The Venue in Scottsdale was a throw back to the Wild, Wild West and the old saloon days where scantily clad saucy sirens were as hot as the desert sun. The Venue was quite impressive. It was like shooting the Bahranian Palace. One digital shot in to our tour of this impressive venue and our film was all but seized. With a promised delete we were good to go.
Plenty of business boys were in the building with lots of Coors on pour. Smokin’ hot LL Cool J hit the stage late night after midnight. Meanwhile outside on the streets of Scottsdale, Coors was hosting a full-blown block party where our picture was taken. We let them have it!
The House That Hennessy Built
The House of Hennessey, 944, Tao & Flaunt put their uber forces together to create the uber exclusive late night house, way up in the Hills of Phoenix. It was THE spot where all the late night players & A list celebs tore up the party playing field with Classic Hennessey Cocktails that were yummo!!! I’m a fan!
Friday Night Lights, all of the Kardashians, Kim, Khloe & Kourtney and Ryan Party Boy Seacrest were there all night while Nicole Richie’s ex DJ AM spun on deck. Maybe partying is good for the soul & good for the game as several Super Bowl Giants snuck in for a quick spin at The Hennessey House on Friday as well. Mums the word on who was there.
By Saturday night word got out & it was a mosh pit, a full blown sack attack with heaps of people, piled on 
top of each, pushing & shoving, a FIRE HAZARD waiting to happen, just to get in. The sole security guard told the waiting crowd who were bussed up the hill, in from The Church of Christ parking lot that the house was full & no one else would be allowed in.
Hollywood types are not the type to take no. They yelled, "Revolution!" & the crowd of 100 people, stormed the door. It was a warm welcome to see even Arizona’s own, ball player, A lister & host of many parties & Super Bowl events throughout the weekend, Matt Leinart, one of Paris many Exes, the Arizona Football hottie & new born baby daddy was also oddly also left out in the late night cold, outside the front door.
Power Plays and Power Naps
Meanwhile, back at The Rancho De Los Caballeros, our ranch away from home, life was good and a wee bit slower. As there was no room at the inn, any inn, in town, we set up house in Wickenburg, a good 90 minutes outside of Scottsdale, a bit of a haul each day, but well worth it once back.
As we watched the game in their lodge, (on the seventh day we rest, no big parties on game day nor tix) we were told that Adam Clayton of U2 stayed in the Ranch and watched the game in the Lodge the pervious year. Ninety minutes outside of Scottsdale the stars were still shining bright.
If you want to get your game on in Scottsdale look no further than:
Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. They will make you feel like a VIP.
For your Super Star, Super Bowl treatment any time of any year: www.scottsdalecvb.com
Player, play on!
