Authentic’s Brands Touch Down at Big Game Weekend

On the biggest weekend in sports, Authentic hosted a spate of events in Phoenix, where Sports Illustrated, Shaquille O’Neal and more brands went all out for the big game.

Authentic welcomed celebrities, partners and industry leaders to an intimate VIP dinner in Scottsdale, Arizona, while Shaq's Fun House and Sports Illustrated "The Party" teamed up to bring together some of the biggest names in sports and music.

Read on for a recap of the weekend's top events.

Authentic VIP Dinner

Authentic Founder, Chairman and CEO Jamie Salter welcomed Big Game Weekend with two VIP dinners at high-end contemporary restaurant Mastro’s Steakhouse in Scottsdale. Partners and A-list celebrities including Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal, Lonnie Ali, Todd Krinsky and Guy Fieri were among the evenings’ notable guests.

Sports Illustrated Invitational

The Sports Illustrated Invitational kicked off the weekend by inviting celebrities, sports legends and enthusiasts to its first-ever VIP golf competition. Legendary names from rockstar Alice Cooper and actor Frankie Muniz to former MLB athlete Gary Sheffield and NFL star Jordan Jenkins competed for the grand prize of the inaugural SI Invitational Cup.

Shaq’s Fun House

Shaq’s Fun House transformed the legendary Talking Stick Resort into a larger-than-life carnival experience complete with rides and attractions, circus performers and live musical acts by headliners Snoop Dogg, Diplo and more.

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Sports Illustrated “The Party”

Presented by Captain Morgan, Sports Illustrated “The Party” delivered star-studded power and one-of-a-kind activations with its sports and music mega event featuring immersive experiences, world-class hospitality and performances by The Chainsmokers and Machine Gun Kelly.

Brand Activations

Thomasville unveiled its all-new furniture line at the Sports Illustrated Invitational and set up pop-up recharging stations at Shaq’s Fun House, while Nine West hosted a special activation and VIP lounge at Sl “The Party.”

GQ Sports Style Hall of Fame

The inaugural GQ Sports Style Hall of Fame invited February cover stars and inductees Allen Iverson, Deion Sanders and Derek Jeter to speak about their acclaimed careers. In the exclusive interview with GQ, The Answer opened up about his NBA idol, Michael Jordan, and on-court style philosophy. Watch the full interview here.