Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Stunning guest list for Goodell’s party
THIS is where you notice Elaine Wynn across the room, move over to say hello, and she says, “You must know my friend, Roger.” The reference is to Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner and host of the Commissioner’s Party on Friday at Wynn Las Vegas’ Event Pavilion.
The guest list was the Super Bowl of Super Bowl parties. Not far away, seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady walked the room, with Jim and Frann Gray on the same day they announced their Hall of Excellence at Fontainebleau.
Raiders owner Mark Davis chatted with Wynn, Cowboys owner (and avid Vegas fan) Jerry Jones and “CBS Mornings” host Gayle King.
Wynn said to Davis, “The four people who made the Super Bowl possible in Las Vegas were Estes Kefauver, Robert F. Kennedy, E. Parry Thomas, Howard Hughes and Mark Davis.” To Wynn, a member of Vegas royalty, that group eradicated mob ownership in Vegas resorts and (in Davis’ case) delivered an NFL franchise and first-class stadium to the city.
Around the venue, Gladys Knight posed for pics before singing a set that featured “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Wayne Newton performed “Viva Las Vegas” and “Danke Schoen” with David Perrico and the Raiders House Band. Shania Twain closed the show, alongside Ray Parker Jr., playing “You’re Still the One” and “Ghostbusters” in the same set.
Spotted around this scene were Pats owner Robert Kraft, 49ers’ GM John Lynch, new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, broadcast color man Cris Collinsworth, Super Bowl champ QB and broadcaster Peyton Manning, guitar great Orianthi, comic actor (and host of Thursday’s highly entertaining “NFL Honors” show at Resorts World Theatre) Keegan-michael
Key and LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill.
NFL Network star Rich Eisen turned up, a personal highlight. I met Rich 30 years ago in Redding, California, while he worked at the ABC affiliate and I was a sports writer at the Redding Record Searchlight. We have reconnected through the NFL’S continued and evolving interest in Las Vegas.
Twain, Knight and Newton were the superstar headliners. Vegas shows were further repped by “Awakening’ at Wynn, Kodi Lee of “America’s Got Talent Superstars” at Luxor, Spiegelworld’s “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace and “Atomic Saloon Show” at Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, and Cirque’s “Love” at The Mirage.
In a side convo with the commish, we learned he is thrilled with the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas and the NFL’S relationship with the city generally. He has spent more time in the Super Bowl’s host city than in any other,
arriving Monday and staying for the full week.
Goodell said he has loved halftime show performances by U2 in 2002, just after 9/11; and Prince in 2007, the beautiful rained-upon performance. The commissioner says he is confident Usher will thrill the masses Sunday. One facet in the halftime show is to bring dance to the party, and Usher has that, in and out of roller skates.
Goodell also saw U2 at the Sphere on Thursday, and was blown away. He also spoke highly of Penn & Teller, who made the exec disappear during the “NFL Honors” show. Everyone involved was nervous in the run-up to that routine, during which NFL legend Barry Sanders appeared in Goodell’s place.
Goodell also made sure to know who are the taller and shorter members of Penn & Teller (Teller shorter, silent on stage). The commissioner is learning, all the time, about the new home of the Super Bowl.
‘Shaq’s Fun House’
Before assuming the persona of DJ Diesel, Shaquille O’neal called to the crowd at XS Nightclub, “Put your phones away!”
Good luck with that. We would sooner see the Pistons waltz to the NBA title.
Shaq-as-diesel basked in adulation, recorded and otherwise, at “Shaq’s Fun House” carnival and music event at the Wynn party fortress. The event was jammed, inside and out, even as a light drizzle fell on revelers taking up the Encore Beach Club pool deck. Nearly 5,000 partiers, the majority seeming to be 49ers fans, turned out.
Shaq has hosted the event in tandem with the Super Bowl for the past six years. Before the event, the parttime Vegas resident talked of his goals to make the event as magnificent as his personality.
“I’ve said this last year and the year before, the Super Bowl couldn’t get any bigger,” O’neal said. “But we’re going to Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World, and I’ve partnered with Wynn and XS to bring the biggest event.”
Lil Wayne and Diplo joined Diesel as the night’s headliners. Popcorn booths, and county-fair-fashioned games were set up on the club’s perimeter. I even ran into the great Vegas dancer and stilt performer Lora Kelsey among the side acts.
Celebs turned out, among them Ciara, Russell Wilson, Guy Fieri, Daymond John, Nate Diaz, Nick and Vanessa Lachey, Casey Affleck, The Chainsmokers, Fat Joe, E-40, Flo Rida, Shane Gillis, Bill Burr, Flavor Flav, DK Metcalf, David Dobrik, Michael Irvin, Josh Richards, Heidi and Mark D’amelio, Chuck Liddell, Britt Baker, Aly Raisman, Brian Baumgartner, Dr. Oz, Sam Hartman, Austin North, Robert Griffin III, Lesean Mccoy and Randi Mahomes.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “Podkats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal. com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal. com. Follow @johnnykats on X.