Authentic Defines Big Game Weekend in San Francisco
As Big Game Weekend came to a close in San Francisco, Authentic emerged as a defining force across sports, entertainment and culture—activating at every level from intimate executive conversations to the most talked-about nightlife event of the weekend.
Across three days, Authentic House anchored the company’s presence as a central hub for connection, content and dealmaking, while Sports Illustrated-led events extended that momentum across the city.
Together, the programming showcased how Authentic’s platform comes to life on the world’s biggest stages—uniting brands, partners, athletes and creators through live experiences that drive long-term value.
On the eve of the Big Game itself, Authentic Dinner Club transformed three-Michelin-star restaurant Quince into a space designed for meaningful dialogue and relationship-building. The exclusive, invite-only event, hosted by Authentic Founder, Chairman and CEO Jamie Salter, brought together influential executives, athletes and cultural leaders, including Kevin Hart, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, Russell and Ciara Wilson, Ilona Maher, Karol G, 50 Cent, Machine Gun Kelly, Logan Paul and Nina Agdal, Odell Beckham Jr., Sam Hartman, will.i.am, Damar Hamlin, The Chainsmokers, Livvy Dunne, Zac Efron and Drew Brees.
Sponsors of the evening included Atlas, the invite-only credit card and personal concierge spanning travel, dining, entertainment and bespoke experiences. Tequila brand Gran Coramino provided welcome drinks and a custom cocktail menu, while lifestyle product company Ninja supplied frozen slushies.
Beyond the house, the festivities reached their peak with SI The Party—the biggest nightlife event of the weekend, presented by DraftKings and hosted at Cow Palace.
The high-energy celebration featured live performances by The Chainsmokers, Ludacris and Xandra, alongside immersive brand activations from across the Authentic portfolio. Key integrations included a Shaq-A-Licious truck and activation, The Shaq Shop, a Reebok x Karol G brand moment, a Thomasville lounge and a Nine West shoe bar.
Notable attendees included Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber, Kevin Hart, Jon Hamm, Travis Kelce, Russell and Ciara Wilson, J Balvin, Meek Mill, Travis Scott, Machine Gun Kelly, Dave Portnoy, Rob Gronkowski, George Kittle, Robert Griffin III, Bill Burr, Alix Earle, Livvy Dunne, Becky G, Ryan Castro, Carmelo Anthony, Victor Cruz and G Herbo, cementing the event’s status as the definitive cultural close to Big Game Weekend.
PRESS HIGHLIGHTS:
E! News, Justin Bieber Reunites With Ludacris at Super Bowl Party 16 Years After “Baby” Duet
People, A Guide to All the 2026 Super Bowl Parties and Celebrity Events in San Francisco
SI Swimsuit, The New Era of NFL WAGs: SI Swimsuit’s February Digital Cover
The San Francisco Chronicle, Justin Bieber joins Ludacris, Travis Kelce sings Taylor Swift at Sports Illustrated Super Bowl party
Inside Our Home Base
Throughout the weekend, Authentic House served as our central home base in San Francisco, bringing the company together to engage partners, strengthen relationships and support future business opportunities during one of the most important weeks in sports and entertainment.
At Quince, a steady flow of programming created a setting where the full Authentic ecosystem came together with purpose and focus. Team wardrobe played an intentional role in shaping the experience: During daytime programming, staff were styled in Vince and Vince Camuto for women, as well as Brooks Brothers, Vince and Reebok for men. As the day transitioned into evening, Ted Baker defined the look during the cocktail party, before shifting to Hervé Léger for women and Brooks Brothers for men at the exclusive Authentic Dinner Club.
Content, Culture & Connection
Authentic House hosted a private, invite-only live recording of The Big Podcast with Shaq, the weekly sports and entertainment show hosted by Shaquille O’Neal and Adam Lefkoe. Joined by legendary guests Bo Jackson and Barry Sanders, the special episode captured a candid conversation on leadership, legacy and how elite athletes are shaping their influence beyond the field. Produced for the Playmaker Podcast Network, the live taping brought culturally relevant, digital-first content to life during Big Game Weekend.
Following the recording, Authentic House transitioned into An Evening at Authentic House, an invite-only business development happy hour welcoming partners and industry leaders for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. The gathering reinforced the house’s role as a space for connection and dealmaking, with premium gifting featuring Champion crewnecks, Shaq-A-Licious gummies, Shaquille O’Neal engraved fragrance and Authentic House branded tote bags.
Weekend Highlights
Big Game Weekend kicked off at TPC Harding Park with the 2026 SI Invitational, presented by IZOD, bringing together leaders from sports, entertainment and business for an exclusive, all-day tournament. Brand moments from Rockport, BeeUp and Shaq-A-Licious were integrated throughout the course as 36 teams competed for the Invitational Cup alongside special guest Cam Skattebo.
Authentic House also hosted the SI Swimsuit Digital Cover Party, an invite-only celebration blending fashion, media and culture. The evening honored SI Swimsuit WAGs and SI Swim talent, with staff styled in Brooks Brothers and Ted Baker, plus curated gifting from Champion, Attain Beauty and Authentic.
Later that night, Sports Illustrated and TEU hosted Tight Ends & Friends at Public Works, welcoming nearly 1,000 guests for a high-energy experience hosted by George and Claire Kittle. Activations from Champion, Dockers and BeeUp anchored the space, combining athlete culture, music and interactive brand moments.
Returning to Big Game Weekend was Shaq’s Fun House, bringing the festival-meets-carnival experience to Cow Palace for its eighth installment. Headlined by performances from DJ Diesel, T-Pain, Disco Lines and Tiësto, the event saw Authentic’s brands in activation across the venue via The Shaq Shop, Shaq-A-Licious sampling, a Thomasville lounge and Forever 21 branded bumper cars.