Super Bowl Tailgate Photo Essay: Bad Bunny, Big Tech, and the Big Game

Tech, Culture, and Controversy Collide at Super Bowl Week in San Francisco

San Francisco’s streets are buzzing this week as thousands of football fans descend on the Bay Area for Super Bowl festivities. Among them is Jim Lockhart, a Boston native who made the cross-country trek with his crew, braving planes, trains, and automobiles to land at Logan Airport before heading west. Staying at the Intercontinental in downtown San Francisco, Lockhart and his group have embraced the city’s offerings with open arms—from the historic Alcatraz tour to iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge. “San Fran’s been very accommodating,” Lockhart says. “Everybody’s been awesome—friendly bartenders, waitresses, concierge, Uber guys. The city stepped up.”

But it’s not just the sights that have Lockhart excited. Like many visitors, he’s here for the game—and the gambling. Lockhart has placed bets on everything from the coin toss to the Gatorade color dumped on the winning coach, even wagering on the first pass of the game. “I got a mortgage on it,” he jokes, though he admits to navigating some logistical hurdles. California’s strict gambling laws mean he couldn’t use platforms like DraftKings, so he resorted to “offline” bets with a bookie.

Lockhart’s enthusiasm for the game is matched by his willingness to engage in the cultural conversations swirling around Super Bowl LVIII. When asked about the potential presence of ICE agents in the area, he doesn’t mince words: “We love ICE. In my drinks and on the streets. Let’s go. Let’s keep those borders, shut them down.” His comments reflect the polarizing political climate that often intersects with major sporting events.

However, it’s Lockhart’s take on this year’s halftime show headliner, Bad Bunny, that’s drawing the most attention. The Puerto Rican superstar, who will perform in Spanish, has faced criticism from some quarters, and Lockhart is among those voicing disapproval. “I think it’s disgusting that there’s a guy who doesn’t speak English who’s playing at the Super Bowl, at the largest sporting event in America,” he says. “And there’s a guy singing that doesn’t speak English, and he also said that he was gonna leave America and never do a tour here again.” While Lockhart admits he doesn’t know much about Bad Bunny, he’s clear about his plans for the halftime show: “I’m gonna walk out. I’m gonna go to the beer line. In protest. I know it’s not gonna make a difference, but, you know?”

Lockhart’s visit hasn’t been without its tech-driven adventures. While he’s yet to try a driverless Waymo car—admitting they make him “nervous”—he and his friends embraced another San Francisco innovation: electric scooters. “We were, like, Sons of Anarchy on these scooters last night,” he recalls with a laugh. “It was great. That was so fun.” Though scooters are available in Boston, Lockhart says he’s never taken one there, making his late-night ride back to the hotel a memorable first.

As Super Bowl LVIII approaches, Lockhart’s story encapsulates the blend of excitement, controversy, and innovation that defines the event. From his bets to his protests, his experiences highlight the cultural and technological intersections that make this year’s Super Bowl more than just a game.

Tags:
Super Bowl, San Francisco, Bad Bunny, ICE, driverless cars, Waymo, electric scooters, gambling, betting, halftime show, protest, Boston, Logan Airport, Intercontinental Hotel, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Sons of Anarchy, DraftKings, bookie, coin toss, Gatorade, Spanish, politics, tech innovation, tourism, beer line, cultural controversy

Viral Sentences:

• “I got a mortgage on it.”
• “We were, like, Sons of Anarchy on these scooters last night.”
• “I’m gonna walk out. I’m gonna go to the beer line. In protest.”
• “We love ICE. In my drinks and on the streets.”
• “It’s disgusting that there’s a guy who doesn’t speak English who’s playing at the Super Bowl.”
• “San Fran’s been very accommodating. Everybody’s been awesome.”
• “They make me nervous. It’s creepy to me to watch a car drive by without somebody driving the car.”
• “Let’s keep those borders, shut them down.”
• “I think it’s disgusting that there’s a guy who doesn’t speak English who’s playing at the Super Bowl.”
• “I’m gonna go to the beer line. In protest.”

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