Game On at GBK’s Pre-ESPY Celebrity Lounge
Koreatown’s cool Line Hotel was the perfect place for nominees and presenters of The 2016 ESPYs to relax, get gifted and pampered and mix and mingle with fellow athletes and VIPs as GBK and Cooper Tire put on a day-long luxury lounge before the awards show.
Where else could you get a sports massage, cocktails and cool gifts from top brands in tune with the annual event honoring the sports world’s best? Not to mention specialty cocktails and great music in a festive environment where everyone seemed to be having a great time.
Some of the guests partaking in the festivities included Odell Beckham Jr. (2015 ESPY Winner for Best Play), Eric Berry (Best Comeback Athlete Nominee), Chloe Kim (Best Female Action Sports Athlete & Best Breakthrough Athlete Nominee), Gus Kenworthy (Best Action Sports Athlete Nominee), Devon Still (Defensive Tackle, Houston Texans), Jason Belmonte (2015 ESPY Winner & 2016 Nominee for Best Bowler), Prince Amukamara (Cornerback, Jacksonville Jags), Rashad Jennings (Running Back, NY Giants), Chris Canty (Defensive End, Baltimore Ravens), Joe Berenyi (Best Male Athlete with a Disability Nominee), and many of the Super Bowl vhampions, including Ronnie Hillman and Chris Harris Jr.
In addition to the athletes, other special guests included Ernie Hudson, currently starring in “Ghostbusters,” along with actors Dule Hill and sportscaster Curt Menefee.
Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t make it, but asked to have his favorite Cooper Tires and a trip to the Belmond, St Martin Resort sent his way. And Dwight Howard got a gift bag filled with items including a set of Cooper Tires new Zeon RS3-G1, specifically designed for drivers looking for a high performance tire that can really grip the road.
“I wish the Ectomobile had Cooper tires on it,” said Hudson about the iconic “Ghostbusters” vehicle.
Another covetable gift was leather sports and contemporary lifestyle bags from New York City-based JLEW Bags, which is sponsoring Olympic boxer Mikaela Mayer. And there were many more fashion and accessory items.
Guests received products from BOPULENT Jewelry, handmade with 14kt gold, rose gold, platinum, silver and diamonds; machine washable headphone sewn into clothing from ProTrending – SoundStitch, JH Design Group’s official licensed custom jackets of the NBA, NFL, and MLB; quality unisex garments from Maebane, and backpacks and duffel bags from Zumer Sport.
There were also brands offering health and wellness products including the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute, a world-renowned vision center known for its cutting edge treatments and procedures. Dr. Liza of the[fix] chiropractic + massage performed five minute neck + shoulder fixes in the lounge and gifted the signature the|fix| tank or tee and pain relief aromatherapy balm.
Other hot items included four night stay at Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa in the Caribbean, keepsake leather-bound press clipping and photo books from Best of Legacy and inflatable furniture from Dumbo Lounge Sacks.
Tunes were provided by DJ Little Indian and countless cocktails made with premium Voo Vodka, distilled in Michigan, were served up to guess who also enjoyed food from Jalisco’s Mobile Taco Grill.
As the day came to a close, a private poker tournament raised at the venue raised thousands of dollars for the LA Clippers Foundation, the Model Citizen Fund and the Animal Wellness Foundation.
Score another win for GBK.
