Grey Cup half-time performance 'feels like a perfect fit' for the Jonas Brothers
American boy band says the 111th Grey Cup is their first live experience at a Canadian Football League game
An American boy band says they are excited to perform their hit songs at the 111th Grey Cup half-time show — their first live experience at a Canadian Football League game.
The Jonas Brothers, made up of Kevin, Joe and Nick, will perform an approximate 15-minute set for fans at BC Place in Vancouver during the football match on Sunday between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts.
The blue and gold are looking to win their third Grey Cup within five consecutive seasons.
"I think any opportunity to get people in a place like this to celebrate together — whether it's music, sports — it's an exciting night," Joe Jonas said during a press conference on the football field Saturday.
"I feel like, just even watching some of the highlights of the playoffs in our hotel room, you see the excitement of some of these fans that love their teams and are so supportive," he said, adding that the brothers are thrilled to play for a football crowd in Canada.
Watching the NFL was a big part of their upbringing while growing up in New Jersey, Nick Jonas said. The brothers became New York Giants fans and rivaled against their dad who cheered for the Dallas Cowboys.
"Even if you're on opposing sides, you come together, celebrate a great game and I think it just feels like a perfect fit for us to be a part of an event like that that's so meaningful to people here in Canada," he said.
While the band members are predicting a high-scoring game between the Blue Bombers and Argonauts, they also spoke about what football position they would like to play if they were given the chance.
"Kevin is definitely the kicker because he kicked a field goal for the [Los Angeles] Rams for a little TV bit that we did and it was actually pretty impressive," Joe Jonas said, adding that he would be a quarterback.
"I kicked a field goal and then an actual kicker did not, so that's my claim to fame right now," Kevin Jonas said.
Nick Jonas said he couldn't provide any reasoning for his choice of wanting to play as safety other than that "it just feels right."
The band said they had to get selective with their set list to squeeze in as many songs as they can during the half-time show and are excited to perform at the stadium that holds nearly 55,000 people.
Stealing the show
Thousands have been flocking from out of province to Vancouver this week to watch the game, but the Jonas Brothers are stealing the show for some whose underlying reason to be at tonight's game is to watch the 15-minute half-time show.
"The Grey Cup, yes, football is great … mostly came for the Jonas Brothers," Janelle Head told CBC News.
Head joined a group of family and friends last minute to be at the Grey Cup game, so she could watch the boy band for the second time this year.
"Is there are any words for that? Like, how do you describe perfection all in a little lower mainland like magical bubble — I am so excited, I can't wait."
B.C.'s tourism ministry says it expects the game's festivities to bring in 30,000 out-of-province fans and drive an economic boost of $125 million.
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With files from Gavin Axelrod and Mike Arsenault