New York Post

Sting to headline NFL party?

-

STING is in talks to headline an NFL Super Bowl pre-game “tailgate” concert as the latest mega pop star to appear in Minneapoli­s for the big game, Page Six has exclusivel­y learned.

During his set, the former Police rocker will perform one number with his recent reggae collaborat­or Shaggy at the pre-Super Bowl gig on Feb. 4. Other acts are also in talks for the yet-to-be-announced pre-game show. A source close to the league told us that the concert would be at a different site than the US Bank Stadium, where the game will be played.

Justin Timberlake’s playing halftime, with Pink singing the national anthem and Leslie

Odom Jr. crooning “America the Beautiful.”

The move to book Sting for the tailgate gig comes as the league further tries to capitalize this year on a new Super Bowl weekend initiative to increase attraction­s aside from the game — such as concerts, celebrity chef tastings and VIP parties, which were once the domain of third-party promoters and hospitalit­y groups.

Dave Matthews will perform a “Night Before” concert at Xcel Energy Center, backed by CBS Radio and On Location Experience­s, the “experienti­al hospitalit­y” firm partially owned by NFL owners. Other shows with ties to On Location, including through its Nomadic Entertainm­ent arm, feature Gwen Stefani, Jennifer

Lopez, Florida Georgia Line, the Chainsmok- ers, Imagine Dragons and Kelly Clarkson.

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are curating a free 10-day Super Bowl Live extravagan­za, complete with a tribute to local legend-turned-internatio­nal music icon Prince.

A source said that it’s still unclear as to whether the Sting-headlined show will be televised, but it could potentiall­y boost ratings as a lead-in. For the past four years, halftime performanc­es have drawn more viewers than actual playing time.

Page Six previously reported that Sting and Shaggy are working on an album together, and the duo recently played their song, “Don’t Make Me Wait,” at a Shaggy & Friends benefit in Jamaica. Reps did not comment.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States