Bad Bunny parties are happening in Houston for the Super Bowl
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The Super Bowl — ahem, let's be real, the "Benito Bowl" — is this Sunday, and it's a big one.
Why it matters: Bad Bunny's performance will be rare moment of Latino visibility on a stage that has historically featured English-language pop and rock acts on one of the biggest stages in American sports.
Driving the news: "Benito Bowl" has become a phenomenon, fueling a cottage industry of house parties, bar events, merchandise and recipes centered on the Puerto Rican artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.
- This comes after Bad Bunny's historic Grammy wins last weekend, when he won album of the year for "Debí Tirar Mas Fotos."
Between the lines: After the NFL named Bad Bunny as the halftime performer in September, racially charged backlash followed — including the launch of an "All-American Halftime Show" as a conservative counter-programming effort from Turning Point USA.
By the numbers: Eventbrite, a global events marketplace, tells Axios that week-over-week ticket orders tied to Bad Bunny-inspired events surged more than 1,000% nationwide in the first two weeks of January, with another 560% jump the following week.
The vibe: Across Houston, there are Bad Bunny-themed events and watch parties. Here are a few:
- Metropolis & Extravaganza has Bad Bunny and Reggaetón hits cued all Friday night. Barbarella also has a "Bad Bunny Bowl" themed club night Friday.
- There's a Bad Bunny look-alike contest at Esplanade at Navigation Market Sunday.
- Vida Garden Midtown has a Super Bowl/Benito Bowl watch party with "Bad Bunny vibes all day" Sunday.
- Pearl Bar on Sunday is hosting a Bad Bunny costume contest, trivia, dance party and a chance to win a trip to Puerto Rico.
What they're saying: Veronica Ramirez, owner of Texas-based Sin Miedo Market, is selling "Benito Bowl" T-shirts — and says the moment reflects Latinos refusing to make themselves smaller.
- "In a political climate that targets our communities, our joy becomes radical," Ramirez tells. "Dancing, singing, laughing, showing pride in our rhythms, our language and our culture is an act of defiance."