A Super Bowl Pilgrimage Is The Endgame Of Boys Holidays

This article is part of a series celebrating Boss Hunting’s favourite corners of the United States. Click here to see more.

There’s no doubt about it— for NFL fans, the Super Bowl is the biggest and most exciting sporting event of the year. This makes the possibility of attending the coveted football game a privilege that only a few fans will ever experience in their lifetime. 

If you’re one of the lucky ones to get tickets with your friends, you must make the absolute most of the weekend — not only at the game itself but enjoying the surrounding festivities too. After all, from the commercials launched with the Super Bowl to the legendary Halftime show, there’s so much more to do than just sit back and watch the players get after it. 

With that in mind, we wanted to map out a few different ways you can enjoy the Super Bowl to its absolute fullest. From the days before the big game and the event itself, to all of the other adrenaline-filled activities you can participate in, let’s get into it. 

Pre-Game Planning

More than half of all Super Bowls have been held in either Miami, Los Angeles or New Orleans, with the most recent games to buck this trend occurring in 2019 (Atlanta, Georgia), 2021 (Tampa, Florida), and 2023 (Glendale, Arizona). If you’re planning on getting tickets with mates for either the 2024 or 2025 editions, you can already start your planning as we know they’ll be held in Paradise, Nevada and New Orleans, Louisiana respectively. 

If Nevada is the game you’re looking to get involved in, the Allegiant Stadium is the home of the Las Vegas Raiders and is one of the newest and most impressive stadiums in the United States. It’s currently the second most expensive stadium ever constructed (after the $5.5 billion SoFi Stadium), so you can look forward to soaking in the atmosphere with more than 71,000 other fans as you enjoy your weekend in Paradise. 

Hotels are something that should be front of mind once you’ve locked in your tickets, with Ticketmaster typically releasing tickets two weeks in advance of the game. If you’re able to confirm your tickets any earlier, hotel availability will be much better, with the most reputable hotels in Paradise, Nevada, including the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and the Bellagio. 

It’s not a weekend away with mates if you aren’t eating and drinking well, so if you need a tip on the best restaurants in Paradise, make sure you check out either Ferraro’s Ristorante, Envy The Steakhouse, or Paradise Cantina. For a drink or two after dinner, Double Down Saloon is an iconic spot, while the likes of LAVO Nightclub or LAX the Nightclub are perfect for a night on the town.

However, if February 2024 is a little soon for your Super Bowl plans and you’ve got your sights set on the 2025 edition in New Orleans, Caesars Superdome is where you need to get yourself. Home of the New Orleans Saints, the Caesars Superdome has a capacity for 76,000 fans and has hosted no less than seven editions of the Super Bowl over the decades. 

As far as hotels in the Big Easy go, you’ll have a fantastic stay at the likes of The Roosevelt New Orleans, The Ritz-Carlton, and the Bourbon Orleans Hotel, with many other great hotels offering options too. Visiting a city like New Orleans promises some of the best dining of your life, so make sure you lock in a reservation at a spot such as Cochon Restaurant, August, or Commander’s Palace if you’re after a top-tier experience. 

A Weekend You’ll Never Forget

With all the planning done, you and your nearest and dearest are ready to touch down in the Super Bowl city, locked and loaded for an unforgettable weekend. Before you actually walk through the gates at the stadium, there’s plenty to soak in and experience. 

Make sure you pick up the jerseys of the team you’re supporting and get dressed up in their colours, before heading down to the Super Bowl Experience venue, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in 2024. Next year you can expect games and activities, which aim to test your NFL skills and give you an idea of just what such elite athletes are capable of. 

These include challenges such as the Crucial Catch QB Scramble, the Play Football Two Minute Drill, the FedEx Air Challenge, and the Precision Passing drill, which serve up a taste of what it’s like to be a professional footballer. There are also informational exhibits such as the Chronology of Pro Football to fill in any gaps in your knowledge of the game. 

One event that’s not to be missed on the Super Bowl weekend is the NFL Honors Night, which takes place ahead of the big game to celebrate the top performers in the league. With a star-studded guest list, and the unveiling of MVPs and other outstanding achievers, it’s a different perspective of the athletes when they aren’t wearing their game-day helmets. 

You can also expect many concerts and live music performances to take place across the Super Bowl city each year, some of which are free of charge to attend. Simply check the schedule, rally together your mates and hit the town to enjoy the festivities. 

The final obligation the players have to fans before kick-off is the Super Bowl media day, which offers everyone a chance to see the players in a more relaxed atmosphere than game day. Some players will be available for autograph sessions and selfies, so take your best shot at shaking the hand of a future Super Bowl winner while you can. 

Lastly, if you find yourself in the city where the Super Bowl is being held, but you didn’t manage to secure tickets to the game, the age-old tradition of a tailgate party is something everyone should experience. Get lost in the crowd outside the stadium to enjoy great food, cold drinks and communal viewing on massive screens. 

Up Close & Personal

Once you’ve scanned your ticket and entered the stadium, get ready to sit back and enjoy one of the world’s greatest sporting events live and in person. You’ll have access to snacks and refreshments to keep your energy high for every second of the four-hour event, with incredible entertainment guaranteed from start to finish. 

While football itself will have you on the edge of your seat, the Halftime Show is a spectacle the entire world tunes into every year and is something to look forward to. Some of the most recent superstars to perform at the Halftime Show include Shakira and Jennifer Lopez (2020), Rihanna (2023), Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Beyoncé (2016). 

For the 2024 Halftime Show at the Super Bowl, Usher has already been confirmed to perform and further stars are expected to be confirmed as acts. When you consider more than 120 million people watched the Halftime Show in 2023 (the most in history) and Jay-Z’s entertainment agency Roc Nation is booking artists, we’d be surprised if more big names weren’t announced soon enough. 

The Finishing Touches

When the final whistle is blown, the last thing you’ll want to do is head back to your hotel room. If you’re a fan who loves getting as close to the action as possible, the Super Bowl parade is something you can’t miss and is another chance to see all the players up close, as well as the iconic Lombardi Trophy as the winning team celebrates their historic victory. 

Once the Super Bowl parade wraps, the city will continue the festivities at restaurants, bars and clubs everywhere, with special events, exclusive parties and vibrant streets for everyone to enjoy. The celebrations are sure to continue long into the night and into the days following, so if you’re keen on partying with your mates like you’ve never done before, this is when you should do it. 

So as you gear up for the Super Bowl weekend with your friends, remember that it’s not just about the game itself – it’s about the unforgettable experiences, the bonds forged and the memories you’ll have for a lifetime. From the Super Bowl Experience to the post-game celebrations, savour every moment, indulge in great food and drink, and embrace the spirit of the Super Bowl weekend with your crew. 

This article is sponsored by VisitTheUSA.com.au and is part of a series celebrating Boss Hunting’s favourite corners of the United States. Click here to see more, and thank you for supporting the brands that support Boss Hunting.