It turns out the Super Bowl pre-parties just aren’t that super. In an effort to tighten purse strings, some of the most popular promotional events are being scaled back or simply cutback. Here’s a rundown:
Sports Illustrated: Off
Coming off a year when publisher Time, Inc. cut six percent of its 10,200 employees and faced restructuring costs upwards of $125 million, putting on a Super Bowl party doesn’t seem like the highest priority.
Playboy: Off
Time magazine called this party the “Vanity Fair Oscar Party” of Super Bowl parties. Tickets sell for $2,000. But the magazine is wisely favoring the relaunch of Playboy.com in February over the popular party with Hef-ty price tag.
Lingerie Bowl: Off
This is more of an issue of location, location, location, than economics. The “Lingerie Football Committee” could not get permits to stage the event in Pasco County, Fla.
Maxim: On for now
One source described the party as “hanging on by a spaghetti strap.” Attendance for the bash was cut in half, but the party is still expected to go off with 1,000 of Tampa’s most beautiful people in attendance.
ESPN the Magazine: On
Arguably the most exclusive event after Maxim’s, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is home to this party, hosted by unlikely trio Kevin Dillon (Entourage), Jimmy Johnson (NASCAR) and Nick Lachey (recording artist).
Leather and Laces: On
This annual event will be hosted by Jenny McCarty, Carmen Electra and Kim Kardashian this year and promises lots of celebrities and athletes in attendance.
Seemingly recession proof, there will be far more celebrity hosted parties - most notably, Kevin Costner’s will benefit a Tampa Bay Buccaneers charitable foundation. Former NY Giants superpstar Michael Strahan will co-host and T-Pain and Sean “Diddy” Combs will perform.
