LOS ANGELES — If you're looking for a Super Bowl event to attend, look no further. Shaquille O'Neal is hosting his 4th annual Shaq's Fun House, a festival and concert with some of the biggest names in music.
It's a new take on the three c's traditionally: calm, cool and collected, but Shaq's Fun House is the exact opposite. Think carnival, concert and circus.
As they get ready for the big day, co-founder Joe Silberzweig said this Super Bowl event takes all year to plan.
"Shaq's Fun House is one of the only Super Bowl events that is open to the public," said Silberzweig, co-founder of Medium Rare management and event production. "So many of the other events are exclusive, or by invite only and for Shaquille, it was really important to open this event up to the people of LA."
He calls it his kingdom, and this will be Shaq's fourth year hosting the Fun House, but it'll be unlike any other because this one is at the Shrine Auditorium in LA.
"Shaq-size ferris wheels, interactive rides and games and dozens of circus performers," O'Neal said.
He also hand-picked some of his favorite local food spots, including Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, Pink's Hot Dogs and Diddy Riese ice cream. It's a partnership made in festival heaven that started as a small idea that Silberzweig said everyone called crazy four years ago.
He and his business partner, Adam thought, "how fun would it be to put on a late night festival for the 'average Joe's' like himself wanting to celebrate Super Bowl?"
It led to them starting their management and event production company, Medium Rare.
"Shaq's Fun House 2018 was actually the first event we ever did so pretty surreal to be back here," Silberzweig explained.
The crew was just starting the build on Wednesday, but the lot will be jam-packed by Friday night.
"We're building a city here that we construct just for the day," Silberzweig said. "So many different domains and departments working together."
A crew of more than 100, including site operator Rodney Ignacio who says he does it for the people and for the laughs shared between friends and the unforgettable moments he hears stories about for years to come.
For instance, "that was when me and my fiancé got engaged at this specific on this song,' Ignacio referenced. "So we do it for the memories."
If you're planning on proposing during a concert, Silberzweig said there's ample opportunity for that, too.
O'Neal has tapped into his favorite artists, Lil Wayne, Diplo and Zed are all expected to perform with an appearance by O'Neal's alter ego, DJ Diesel, too.
"The daddy is coming back to town," O'Neal said.
Silberzweig said he has 1,000 things to do before then, no time yet to feel proud or accomplished.
"Ask me on Friday night at 2 a.m. and hopefully I'll be all smiles," Silberzweig laughed.
If you'd like to be there to see it, tickets have already sold out. However, Shaq's Fun House does have legitimate ticket resale sites listed on its website.