For 70 years, Sports Illustrated has helped define the moments, athletes, and culture that shape sports. Now, at the biggest moment on the sports calendar, Sports Illustrated and Tight End University (TEU)are joining forces to kick off Big Game Weekend in San Francisco with Tight Ends & Friends, a high-energy celebration presented by Cash App and VISA that brings TEU’s signature, community-driven culture to one of the most anticipated nights of the weekend. The event will take place Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Public Works, with doors opening at 9:00 p.m. Tickets will go on sale today, January 15, with a limited Early Bird release priced at $85, a nod to San Francisco 49ers star Tight End, and TEU Founder George Kittle, available in extremely limited quantities. Fans can purchase at sitickets.com/2026SITEU.
Designed as a collegiate-style party with elevated production, Tight Ends & Friends will channel TEU’s authentic, team-first energy into an immersive nightlife experience that sets the cultural tone for the weekend. Guests can expect interactive games and activations, turf-inspired buildouts, and a high-impact soundtrack blending local DJs with national talent, culminating in a headline performance by Loud Luxury, with Frank Walker opening the night. From start to finish, the event will deliver a culturally relevant moment rooted in authenticity, fan engagement, and TEU’s close knit community of friends and family.
Throughout the night, guests will enjoy all-inclusive access featuring food giveaways from sponsor partners and surprise appearances from TEU friends and family. TEU events are known for drawing a strong mix of athletes, entertainers, and sports-world personalities, with familiar faces from the TEU universe expected to attend. The event is produced by Rubicon Talent andAuthentic Live, the live events arm of Authentic, Sports Illustrated’s parent company. Additional ticketing details and talent announcements will be revealed closer to the event.
Cash App will serve as the presenting sponsor of the evening, offering an exclusive 25% off discount for Cash App cardholders and expedited event entry. Novartis, an innovative medicines company, will host an activation providing a relaxing experience for attendees. Zenni Optical will display and offer guests their limited edition Kittles x Zenni eyewear collection, co-designed with TEU Founder George Kittle. Kinder’s will prepare a dedicated food station as the official sauce and seasoning partner. Diageo’s Smirnoff is joining as the official vodka partner, with two signature cocktails to be served. Proximo’s Maestro Dobel Tequila will be the official tequila of the event, including a branded food cart experience. Additional on-site activations will be hosted by Dockers and Champion, a brand whose authentic connection to sport, fandom, and modern culture will showcase a product display highlighting its new NFL collection. Verizon has you covered as the exclusive wireless and cellular partner of the night. Verizon customers can score exclusive tickets to the event through Verizon Access on the My Verizon app and enjoy expedited entry making it easier than ever to join the celebration.
General Admission tickets are on sale now and available at sitickets.com/2026SITEU. Additional ticketing details and talent announcements will be revealed closer to the event.
About Tight End University
Founded in 2021 by NFL Tight Ends George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen, Tight End University was created as a platform to bring the Tight End community together for an annual immersive three-day program. Over the course of the summit, attendees are able to bond, collaborate with, and learn amongst their peers while participating in a variety of activities including film study, on-field drills, recovery, rehabilitation, and more. In addition to current players, TEU also features several retired legends who provide attendees with the invaluable opportunity to learn from some of the best to ever play the game.
TEU lives on throughout the year with other tentpole events and moments, including National Tight Ends Day, the third Sunday in October of football season, which highlights the position’s contributions to football. Beyond supporting our athletes, TEU is also driven to give back to the community through a variety of charitable initiatives. Thanks to the help of our sponsors, we are able to raise money for various organizations and make annual donations of all proceeds to charities selected by our hosts.
For more information visit te-university.com.
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