Minneapolis, Minn. (Jan. 16, 2018)—Among the many Big Game parties taking place on Feb. 4, SoberBowl™ will truly stand out.
Featuring live music, comedy, several NFL greats and guest host Leigh Steinberg, the legendary sports agent, SoberBowl looks to be the only high-profile viewing party in Minneapolis that will celebrate the NFL title game 100 percent alcohol-free. The event will be held at MUSE Event Center, a premier venue in the North Loop of Minneapolis.
Steinberg, famously depicted in the movie Jerry Maguire, will be joined at SoberBowl by Minnesota Viking Hall of Famer Carl Eller, former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, comedian and master impressionist Craig Gass, other NFL stars and some of Minnesota's favorite music acts, including Johnny and Molly Solomon of Communist Daughter, Mark Mallman, Katy Vernon, and The Jorgensen Tagg Band. Additional athletes and musicians will be announced in the days ahead.
"SoberBowl is one part of our larger mission to mainstream sobriety," says Tracy Abbott, Director of The ARK, the Houston-based nonprofit creator and producer of SoberBowl. "By bringing together amazing athletes and entertainers to share about personal connections to recovery in a festive environment, we aim to mainstream the otherwise radical concept of alcohol-free events. At the same time, we want to serve as an attraction to those who may be seeking the recovery lifestyle, but may think it only exists on the periphery of popular culture. Most importantly, we invite recovering friends to safely participate in the festivities on a day traditionally reserved for alcohol consumption."
"Minnesota is the 'Recovery Capital of the World' because so many people have overcome substance use and related challenges and now lead outstanding lives in the robust and supportive recovery community here," said Nick Motu, Vice President of the nonprofit Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the title sponsor of SoberBowl.
"This exciting event will highlight our state's uniquely valuable contributions to the nation's culture on a global platform," added Motu. "We are especially pleased and proud that our hometown hero Carl Eller will be among the NFL greats and other celebrities at this ultimate alcohol-free game day experience. This is a first-of-its-kind opportunity for the sizable sober population here."
At $20, SoberBowl is likely the most affordable top-tier viewing party that will be held in the Twin Cities on the day of the Big Game, and the price includes food by Crave Catering. Doors open at noon. Pre-game options begin right away. Music starts at 1 p.m., and the formal program will run from approximately 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by a giant-screen Big Game Watch Party. Tickets, parking and additional information, including pending announcements, can be found at www.soberbowl.us.
If you would like to schedule an interview with speakers, performers or someone from SoberBowl, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation or other local sponsors, please contact Jeremiah Gardner at jjgardner@hazeldenbettyford.org or 1-651-213-4231 or Tracy Abbott at tracy@soberbowl.us or 1-713-240-4931.
About SoberBowl
SoberBowl is the creation of The ARK, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to producing top tier alcohol-free creative arts, film and sports entertainment events since 2013. It serves the 33 percent of Americans who choose not to drink alcohol – including the 23 million living in active recovery—as well as the 30 percent of Americans who average only one drink per week. ARK events meet the market demand for popular culture gatherings but without compromise to a healthy lifestyle. SoberBowl, launched in Houston in 2017, provides a high-end concert production and big screen game watch party in the NFL championship host city. SoberBowl leaves behind its "footprint" in each previous host city. For example, while SoberBowl MSP takes place in Minneapolis in 2018, SoberBowl HTX will occur simultaneously in the 2017 host city of Houston. In 2019, SoberBowl will add its third location in the NFL championship host city of Atlanta. Learn more about SoberBowl MSP and SoberBowl HTX at www.soberbowl.us.
About the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a force of healing and hope for individuals, families and communities affected by addiction to alcohol and other drugs. It is the nation's leading nonprofit treatment provider, with a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding of the Betty Ford Center. With 17 sites in California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado and Texas, the Foundation offers prevention and recovery solutions nationwide and across the entire continuum of care to help youth and adults reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. It includes the largest recovery publishing house in the country, a fully accredited graduate school of addiction studies, an addiction research center, an education arm for medical professionals and a unique children's program, and is the nation's leader in advocacy and policy for treatment and recovery. Learn more at HazeldenBettyFord.org and on Twitter @hazldnbettyford.