Stars at the Super Bowl: How Gronk and Shaq plan to celebrate

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rob Gronkowski may be retired from the NFL, but the former All-Pro footballer is still in the game during the league’s championship week.

The four-time Super Bowl winner – who calls himself the “MVP of Fun” – will host a music festival called “Gronk Beach” in Phoenix on Saturday, a day before the big game. The beach-themed daytime party features performances by 21 Savage, Lil Jon and Diplo.

After hosting the event in Miami and Las Vegas, Gronkowski said he is introducing a celebrity volleyball pool competition. The event will be held at the Talking Stick Resort, which will feature Shaquille O’Neal’s “Shaq’s Fun House” on Friday and Sports Illustrated’s “The Party” later on Saturday night.

“This event gives a whole different dynamic to going to a party,” Gronkowski said. “Anyone can go to a party in their basement like high school or college style. But as you get older, you like the theme party now. They like to go in, see the beach, see the volleyball game, see the stage. It’s like heaven.”

In addition to Gronkowski’s event, the days leading up to the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will feature concerts by some of music’s biggest stars, including Drake, Cardi B, Snoop Dogg, Patti LaBelle, Kane Brown and Machine Gun Kelly.

Here’s a look at some of the events during a busy Super Bowl week:

SHAQ’S FUNHOUSE

O’Neal’s Mardi Gras event will make its own touchdown Friday in downtown Phoenix.

As in years past, the ex-NBA player – who works part-time as DJ Diesel – wants to bring back a fun event with a human claw machine, a Ferris wheel and an 80-foot slide. Snoop Dogg and Diplo are the expected headliners.

“We want to have a great time. We know you need to improve your game every year. It’s like winning championships. You know the first time we did it was a championship and it was ok now we have to play back to back. So we want to remain the best Super Bowl party ever in the history of any Super Bowl party.”

CELEBRATION OF THE GOSPEL

Buffalo Bills player Isaiah McKenzie and his team have come up short in the postseason, but he wants to make it by performing with the NFL Players Choir at the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration.

Along with the choir, Patti LaBelle, Israel Houghton, Kierra Sheard and Tye Tribbett will grace the stage at the Mesa Arts Center on Wednesday. The event, founded by Melanie Few, will honor Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who will receive the Faith in Action award, which recognizes current and former NFL players who have made a difference in their communities.

The theme of the event, which combines comedy, football and soulful inspiration, is ‘Unstoppable’.

“I’m looking forward to singing my heart out with my band and my singers and just praising God,” said LaBelle, a Philadelphia native who is excited to meet Hurts. “I pray the Eagles win.”

FLAVORTOWN TAILGATE

Guy Fieri aims to create the biggest Super Bowl culinary event yet.

For those who can’t see the game firsthand, Fieri is hosting Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate. It’s a free, family-friendly event that he expects to attract around 10,000 fans.

Fieri will curate more than 15 restaurant and bar experiences along with appearances from Diplo and LOCASH. The event takes place adjacent to State Farm Stadium where the Chiefs and Eagles face off.

“We have the best game in the world and everyone dreams of it, but not everyone comes to the stadium,” said Fieri. “So I was like, ‘Why don’t we throw a tailgate?’ A lot of people go to the tailgate instead of going to the actual game. But because of parking, there’s usually no tailgate at the Super Bowl. But we’re right across the street from the stadium. We’re throwing a free party from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. so that you can have the Super Bowl experience.”

BUD LIGHT MUSIC FEST

Paramore and the Bleachers will headline the first night of the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest on Thursday. The three-day festival celebrates its fourth year at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns.

The following night features performances by the Dave Matthews Band along with special guest DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak). Imagine Dragons and Kane Brown will close the festival on Saturday night.

MICHELOB ULTRA x NETFLIX

Serena Williams and Brian Cox host the afterparty for the premiere of the documentary “Full Swing”.

Michelob ULTRA and Netflix team up to celebrate the next generation of golf culture with performances from O’Neal, Lori Harvey, DJ Khaled, Canelo Alvarez and Nneka Ogwumike. The event will feature performances by Offset and DJ Pee .Wee.

MORE MORE MORE

Drake is expected to perform at the Homecoming Weekend pop-up party at the luxury Scottsdale Hangar One private jet complex. On Saturday night, The Chainsmokers and Machine Gun Kelly will headline the Sports Illustrated party.

G-Eazy will helm W Scottsdale’s Super Weekend series on Thursday night, while Cardi B will appear the following night. Ludacris will wrap up the series with a set on Saturday.

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Associated Press writer John Carucci contributed to this report.

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For more information on Super Bowl 57, visit: www.apnews.com/SuperBowl

Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press

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