Event Overview:
Our client wanted to throw her husband a 40th birthday celebration that he would never forget. What would be better for an uber 49er fan than to have an intimate dinner for 38 guests on the 40 yard line at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA. But this event was to be a complete secret from the birthday boy…and most of his guests. So, we put together the following amazing experience for them:
Guests, along with a blindfolded guest of honor, would arrive by shuttle to be greeted with a fruity beverage in an “HD40” branded cup that they could carry and keep. They would then go on a tour of the stadium that would lead them to the Press Box where they could look down on the entire field and get a glimpse of the party they would arrive below. Jennifer wanted the menu to include items that were like stadium food, but with an adult twist. Hor d’oeuvres like “The Harbaugh Dog”, a fresh lobster, corn batter, spiced mustard, mini corn dog and “California Gold Rush Popcorn”, freshly popped popcorn, shaved truffle, and clarified butter served in petite cones, were passed and a full bar was available.
Guests would then be escorted back down through the players locker rooms, into the tunnel, actually used by the 49ers, and out onto the field where they would be surprised with confetti cannons and members of the Gold Rush Cheerleading Squad. The cheerleaders would escort the birthday boy to the dinner set at a 40’ long great table, covered in gold leather dot linens, and set on a mini field, painted to mimic the real one used for games.
They would find their area of the table by first consulting a framed custom made football play chart, in the John Madden style. At each seat was a branded menu nestled inside a sleeve bearing the guest name. Down the full length of the table were festive all red arrangements accented with gold on gold ceramic stands interspersed with hand poured candles in tall glass cylinders.
There they would enjoy a meal in four courses or “quarters”, including Deconstructed Tailgate Game Chili, 49ers BBQ Grilled Caesar Salad, Stadium Club Vodka Tonic, and a choice of The “Gridiron” Filet of Beef or Joe Montana & Dwight Clark’s “The Catch” Seabass. Between each course excerpts were played from a video made by a friend on the Jumbotron across the field.
After dinner there was a presentation of the cake that included his favorite things; a wine bottle, a football and a custom 49er Jersey. For some additional fun, the cheerleaders hosted a football kicking contest, where we set up a miniature size goal post and soft nerf footballs, so the ladies could play too. Afterward, much fun was had on the dance floor as guests danced to all their favorite music. They also enjoyed a photo booth where they could pose for pictures to place in a scrapbook for the birthday boy to take home.