Mary J. Blige singis the National Anthem before an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders in Arlington, Texas. Blige, John Legend and Marc Anthony will appear at Cipriani 42nd Street for a $2,500-a-ticket event hosted by Men’s Fitness and Shape magazines on Friday, Jan. 31, as part of Super Bowl XLVIII festivities.NEW YORK – The Super Bowl practically comes with a guarantee of A-list star wattage: No matter where it’s held, celebrities flock to the big game and the blowout extravaganzas connected to it.
But its location this year at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. — just outside of New York City — has raised the bar for over-the-top parties and events that one would only expect from the self-professed capital of the world.
“New York is hot and has always been hot, so the pressure is on. Energy will be pumping, wherever you may be,” said Shape magazine Editor-in-Chief Tara Kraft, who is helping plan a $2,500-a-ticket event at New York’s swanky Cipriani’s, co-sponsored by Men’s Fitness. It will feature Mary J. Blige, Marc Anthony and John Legend.
So far, it seems like the city has delivered on that promise. Jay Z will perform at DirecTV’s Super Bowl Eve party; Drake is due to perform at another; the Foo Fighters are performing across from Bud Light’s floating party on a cruise ship; the Kings of Leon and the Black Keys are set to rock out at two different events; GQ is planning an exclusive, invite-only party that’s still under wraps but likely to attract plenty of boldface names; and Super Bowl staple parties sponsored by the likes of Playboy and Maxim are expected to be even more wild given this year’s location.
“I think the expectations are a lot higher for New York,” said Jon Gieselman of DirecTV, which invented the Celebrity Beach Bowl. “What’s so unique about it is you’re competing with other Super Bowl events but you’re really competing, also, with all of the other incredible things that New York has to offer. There’s so much to do in New York.”