Super Bowl XLIX Is As Much About Concerts, Parties, Festivities As the Big Game

While Super Bowl XLIX is all about the Big Game on Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., it is also about what goes on off the field.

That is because during football's biggest week and weekend comes plenty of celebrating before the spectacle.

Scottsdale, Ariz., will be Hollywood’s second home during Super Bowl Week, with celebrities expected such as Big Sean, Ludacris, Nelly, Jamie Foxx, Steven Tyler and Charli XCX in addition to NFL veterans, superstars and Hall of Famers such as Mike Ditka appearing at events during Super Bowl Week.

For instance, Playboy Enterprises is throwing an exclusive party Friday night at the W Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz. on its Wet Pool Deck, with Nelly as host. Music is being providing by DJ duo The Captains of Industry and two dozen Playboy Playmates in bunny costumes are to mingle at the 15th annual event. Event sponsor MINI USA is to have three models of the New MINI Hardtop four-door on display as part of a MINI Playboy Mansion photo set. There is also be a Camp Playboy-themed area, with fire pits on faux tree stumps, outdoor heaters and faux fur blankets. Tickets run $650 to $950.

On Wednesday night at W Scottsdale, New York Giants player Odell Beckham, Jr., co-hosted the sixth annual Suits & Sneakers Fashion Show by Elevee

along with NBC Sports analyst and former Pro Bowl safety Rodney Harrison. Retired Philadelphia quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Donovan McNabb emceed the star-studded event, which focuses on custom-made suits and sneaker culture.

Also at the W Scottsdale are Super Bowl parties tonight, The Big Game Experience hosted by Jamie Foxx & Friends with tickets $100; and Saturday, Bootsy Bellows' Arizona Takeover hosted by Drake, with tickets costing $350.

And that's just one venue.

Outside of celebrity extravanganzas, there are also plenty and more mainstream events in metro Phoenix.

The 16th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is Friday night at ASU Gammage on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe, Ariz. The concert is co-hosted by singer-entertainer Gladys Knight, actress Holly Robinson Peete and retired NFL player and television personality and sport analyst Rodney Peete.

Pepsi is sponsoring a number of Super Bowl XLIX-related activities from Wednesday through Sunday, including the game's halftime show with Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz. The events, which started Wednesday and run through Sunday, include the Pepsi Hype Zone at Verizon Super Bowl Central in Phoenix; the 2015 Madden Bowl XXI Super Bowl Party tonight in Scottsdale, Ariz.; PepsiCo Game Day Grub Match and other Hyped for Halftime activities in and around University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

DirecTV is hosting its three-day Super Fan Festival in Glendale through Saturday.

On Sunday, comedian, impressionist and entertainer Frank Caliendo and ESPN SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak are co-hosting The 2015 Players Super Bowl Tailgate, a specially-built, 29,000-square-foot tailgating venue at Tanger Outlets Phoenix/Glendale within walking distance of University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Super Bowl -- the NFL championship between the defending champion Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots with a 6:30 p.m. EST Sunday kickoff on NBC-TV -- is expected to have a $500 million economic impact in the greater Phoenix area, according to Arizona Super Bowl Committee officials.