There are a few words to describe last Sunday’s Super Bowl 50 (#SB50) game: Most epic event on TV. Lady Gaga opened the Super Bowl with her rendition of the national anthem in a fiery red pantsuit. Her vocal chops, along with an interestingly different outfit (a far cry from her raw-meat clad costumes or outrageous hairstyles), showed the chart-topping performer in a whole new light.
The halftime performances, featuring Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyoncé, made the actual game seem almost secondary to the spectacle of musical entertainment. The crowd’s enthusiasm was undeniable as they cheered for a “dabbing†Cam Newton and a record-breaking Peyton Manning. #SB50 was more than a game, it was an experience.
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Everything about #SB50 was like the theme: go big or go home. The weather was almost perfect in San Francisco. Levi Stadium was filled with screaming fans, fireworks, orchestras and marching bands. The halftime performers had crucial social messages that promoted love, acceptance and justice for all. The commercials were comical and memorable, especially the one with Mike Tyson. It didn’t matter if you were a football ‘super fan’ or you caught a game here and there, this year’s Super Bowl is one for the books.
The big game was on Sunday, but everything leading up to Sunday was just as epic. Pepsi has been the NFL’s official sponsor for the past few years. This year when they pulled out the blue carpet, they also pulled out all of the stops. They created three full days of star-studded and uber-engaging events for fans to enjoy leading up to the game. San Francisco was buzzing with pre-football parties
and exclusive events. There were VIP gatherings, exclusive product launches and special appearances from the hottest entertainers. Pepsi made sure that #SB50 was all-around entertaining in every aspect, from the music to the celebrities and the events.On Friday night, Pepsi launched its exclusive preview of the Kola House. The first experimental kola bar, restaurant and lounge in the U.S. Pepsi unveiled what consumers can expect at the NYC’s flagship location during the official launch this spring. Expertly crafted cocktails by Alex Ott were just the tip of the iceberg. Swizz Beats DJ’d the event, which meant that the party was in full-effect the entire night.
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Saturday night was even more exclusive with DIRECT TV’s Super Saturday Celebration at Pier 70. This invite-only night of music featured the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the
Dave Matthews Band in a custom-designed venue that integrated the Super Bowl’s pre-game social media frenzy and state-of-the art audio visual displays. Super Saturday is one of the biggest pre-game events hosted by DIRECT TV and business billionaire Mark Cuban’s AXS TV. In the past, Super Saturday has featured Rihanna, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Beyoncé and Jay-Z; so you know it was downright spectacular.What would the Super Bowl weekend be without awards? Fans got to cast their vote for Pepsi’s 2015 Rookie of the Year and the winner was Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, Jameis Winston. The second annual star-studded awards event was nothing short of amazing as fans, the football legends, and the media got a chance to help Winston celebrate his victory over the other finalists including Marcus Peters, Todd Gurley, Amari Cooper, and Tyler Lockett. To cap the celebration, Grammy winner, Pharrell Williams performed.
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#SB50 produced more than a great game. The parties, visual displays, hospitality and celebrations were phenomenally executed. Everyone is still talking about the halftime show and, of course Beyoncé’s Formation World Tour. Fans got to celebrate their teams in so many ways and experience the magic that makes the Super Bowl the ‘best game on earth.’ From wall-to-wall celebrities, state-of-the-art custom-built concert venues to the main championship showdown, this weekend was an unforgettable way to close out another football season. We can’t wait to see what Pepsi has in store for us for Super Bowl LI. And of course, congrats to the 2015 NFL Champions, the Denver Broncos. Enjoy Disney World the way the fans got to enjoy San Francisco.