Tiësto to Make History as First-Ever in-Game Super Bowl DJ

Tiësto will perform while the players warm up as well as during in-game breaks.

As long as he’s been in the game, it appears Tiësto still has a few firsts to add to his résumé. The Dutch superstar is slated to be the first ever in-game Super Bowl DJ when the annual American football championship touches down at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 11.

The Super Bowl has enlisted DJs to perform as players have warmed up in previous years, to be sure. Among them were DJ Khaled in Miami, DJ Snake in Phoenix, and Zedd in Los Angeles. Super Bowl LVIII will mark the first edition in which a DJ plays during in-game breaks, however, and Tiësto (real name Tijs Verwest) is as fitting a candidate as any.

This isn’t the first time he’s played a historic DJ set, after all. Verwest, who cut his teeth in the Netherands’ hardcore scene before achieving globetrotter status as a trance figurehead, also made history as the first DJ to play at the Summer Olympics when he performed during the 2004 event’s opening ceremony in Athens. He’s also a staple of Las Vegas nightlife, holding residencies that established the city as an EDM hotspot as its superclubs provided a new draw for tourists.

Not only that, but Verwest is a longtime fan of American football — specifically the Denver Broncos. “I’ve always been a football fan, and I’m from Europe, so I didn’t really have a team,” he explained in a 2015 interview. “But I support all my friends’ teams and one of my good friends is from Denver and also my girlfriend [now wife Annika Backes] is from Denver so I thought, I’ve got to adopt them.”

“Each year, we look to elevate the in-stadium experience for our fans, and with our first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, it seems only fitting to embrace the legacy of iconic DJs in this city by having Tiësto bring his signature style to our biggest event,” said NFL Event Presentation & Content Director Tim Tubito in a statement. “As one of the most influential DJ/producers who helped define the culture of Las Vegas and electronic music around the world, Tiësto is the perfect artist to help us create an unforgettable gameday experience for our fans, players and viewers everywhere.”

“I’m excited to be a part of the Super Bowl LVIII!” added Verwest. “And it’s even more incredible that it’s in my favorite place — Las Vegas. Thank you to the NFL for having me. I cannot wait to party with you all at the big game!“

It has yet to be determined which teams will face off during Super Bowl LVIII. Additional details will be shared on the NFL website as they become available.

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