subject: Nfl Tickets - Dmb And Taylor Swift To Be Part Of 2010 Kickoff [print this page] For the last several years, the National Football League has had some star-studded partnerships with some of the top names in the music world. One of the traditions that pairs the NFL with the music world comes during the Opening Kickoff game every year. This year's game is called the "NFL Opening Kickoff 2010 Presented by EA Sports" and it is on Thursday, Sept. 9, featuring the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings.
This year, two top names will be a part of the kickoff: the Dave Matthews Band and Taylor Swift. Those wanting to catch the performances and don't have NFL tickets are in luck, because the pregame show will be broadcast live on both NBC and NFL Network at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans who have Verizon can also see the broadcast on NFL Mobile. The show will last an hour and will take place in Jackson Square in New Orleans. The game will be hosted by the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome.
Taylor Swift is perhaps the fastest-rising star to ever hit the country music scene. The 20-year-old singer/songwriter burst onto the scene in 2006 with her multi-platinum self-titled debut album. That release yielded singles like "Tim McGraw," "Our Song," and "Picture to Burn," all of which were also crossover hits. She followed the release with her even more successful sophomore album, 2008's Fearless. Fearless cemented her status as a music icon with singles like "Love Story," "You Belong with Me" and "Fearless." More recently, she appeared on the hit single "Half of My Heart" with John Mayer and also made her film debut in the rom com Valentine's Day. Her third album, Speak Now, is set to be released in October of 2010.
The Dave Matthews Band has star power that rivals Swift, but also adds a dose of longevity. The legendary rock band started building a loyal following in the 1990s, and they moved from cult-following status to superstardom gradually. Each album has added to their legacy, and the band has been touring virtually nonstop since they rose to fame. Some of the favorite singles throughout their long career include "Ants Marching," "Crash Into Me," "Where Are You Going," "American Baby," "Funny the Way It Is" and many more. Their latest release is 2009 Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, and they have been touring to support the album since the release. DMB is set to take 2011 off from touring, their first real break in two decades.
The game between the Saints and the Vikings is a rematch from when the Saints beat the Vikings for the NFC Conference Championship game on Jan. 24 on the Saints' path to a Super Bowl victory against the Indianapolis Colts. Since quarterback Brett Favre has yet to commit to playing this season, it remains yet to be seen how tough of a matchup this will be. The Saints are helmed by quarterback Drew Brees, who was 17 of 31 for 197 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions the last time the two teams faced.
