Prince (October 28, 2017) – “Prince-Themed Night Among Super Bowl Live Plans” News Feature - Star Tribune
This Star Tribune front-page report by Chris Riemenschneider and Rochelle Olson announces plans for a Prince tribute as part of the festivities surrounding Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. The proposed Prince-themed night was scheduled for January 29, 2018 as part of the free Super Bowl Live concert series on Nicollet Mall, with Jimmy “Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis involved in producing the programme.
Publication: Star Tribune
Date: October 28, 2017
Country: United States
Writers: Chris Riemenschneider and Rochelle Olson
THE STORY
Published beneath the headline “A purple-hued party”, the article reports on plans being developed by the Super Bowl Host Committee for the celebrations leading up to Super Bowl LII.
A major part of those plans was a series of free concerts on Minneapolis’ Nicollet Mall.
Producers Jimmy “Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis promised a strongly Minnesota-focused musical programme. The proposed line-up was expected to include NFL outcast Janet Jackson, while the organisers made clear that the celebrations would also contain a dedicated Prince tribute.
Lewis is quoted describing the intention to showcase music from their hometown and provide a celebration of Minnesota’s musical heritage.
PRINCE-THEMED NIGHT
The accompanying Super Bowl Live information identifies January 29, 2018 as the planned Prince tribute night.
The wider Super Bowl Live event was scheduled to run from:
January 26 to February 4, 2018
with daily free concerts on the “Verizon Up Stage at Ice Mountain” at the corner of 8th Street S. and Nicollet Mall.
Jimmy “Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis were named as producers of the concert programme.
The article states that the pair were trying to secure Janet Jackson alongside a combination of classic and newer Minnesota rock, R&B and hip-hop performers.
MINNESOTA MUSIC
The proposed Prince tribute formed part of a wider attempt to give the Super Bowl celebrations a distinctly Minnesota identity.
The article describes organisers planning a programme built around musicians associated with the state rather than simply treating the event as a conventional national concert series.
Prince’s inclusion therefore represented a central part of the musical identity being developed for the festivities.
SUPER BOWL LIVE
The article gives the following details for the wider event:
Where: Nicollet Mall
When: January 26 to February 4, 2018
Activities: Daily free concerts at the Verizon Up Stage at Ice Mountain
Prince Tribute Night: January 29, 2018
Other attractions planned for Nicollet Mall included a football-shaped walk-in snow globe, illuminated displays and ice sculptures containing NFL jerseys.
The article reports that organisers expected the free event to attract one million visitors for its mixture of entertainment, activities and food.
100-DAY COUNTDOWN
The news conference coincided with the beginning of the 100-day countdown to Super Bowl LII.
The accompanying photograph shows Super Bowl Host Committee representatives and Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges around large blocks of ice during the countdown celebration.
The photograph is credited to:
Glen Stubbe / Star Tribune
The caption explains that the celebration marked 100 days until Super Bowl LII was due to arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
The clipping documents the Prince-themed celebration at the planning and announcement stage, several months before the proposed January 29 tribute.
It is therefore important not to treat the article as a review of an event that had already taken place.
Instead, the report captures Minneapolis organisers publicly placing Prince at the centre of the city’s musical contribution to the forthcoming Super Bowl festivities.
The article is particularly relevant to the Prince archive because the planned tribute was being incorporated into one of the largest public events scheduled for Minneapolis during 2018.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Announcement of a Prince-themed Super Bowl Live night
Publication Date: October 28, 2017
Planned Prince Tribute: January 29, 2018
Super Bowl Live Dates: January 26 - February 4, 2018
Location: Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
Producers: Jimmy “Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis
Tone: News and event announcement
Photography: Super Bowl LII 100-day countdown celebration
Photo Credit: Glen Stubbe / Star Tribune
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
• Plans for a dedicated Prince tribute night on January 29, 2018
• Prince incorporated into the Minnesota-focused Super Bowl Live music programme
• Jimmy “Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis producing the free concert series
• An attempt being made to secure Janet Jackson
• A mixture of classic and contemporary Minnesota rock, R&B and hip-hop planned
• Super Bowl Live scheduled from January 26 through February 4
• Daily free concerts planned for Nicollet Mall
• Super Bowl LII scheduled for February 4, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium
• The announcement coinciding with the 100-day countdown to the Super Bowl
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