The following press release was sent out today to hype an upcoming Nikki Bella appearance during WrestleMania 41 weekend:
PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING SPECTACLE TO TAKE OVER FLANKER KITCHEN + SPORTS BAR, APRIL 18 – 21
LAS VEGAS (April 8, 2025) – As the world’s most anticipated professional wrestling spectacle takes over Las Vegas, Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, located at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and just steps away from Allegiant Stadium, is set to be the go-to hub for wrestling fans. Throughout the weekend, Friday, April 18 through Monday, April 21, Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar will roll out a line up of fan experiences and excitement beyond the ring. Advanced reservations are highly recommended and can be made at www.flankerlv.com.
The festivities kick off on Friday, April 18 with a watch party hosted by The Divas, Barbie Blank (Kelly Kelly) and Danielle Moinet (Summer Rae) offering fans the last chance to see the wrestling superstars in action before the main events on April 19 and 20. All table reservations for Friday, April 18 will include a meet and greet, as well as autographs and photos with The Divas and guaranteed seating with 360-degree views of state-of-the-art screens. The Divas will even join lucky VIP fans during the watch party. The one-of-a-kind, exclusive experience is available for purchase at www.flankerlv.com. Doors will open at 4 p.m.
Before the main event, fans can fuel up with brunch on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20. Flanker’s standout brunch includes decadent Dubai Chocolate Pancakes with pistachio cream, crispy kadayif, fresh strawberries and topped with warm chocolate sauce and roasted pistachios; an Açaí Bowl with sliced banana, fresh berries, grandola, coconut, cocoa nibs and agave; and a Truffle Omelette with Parisian ham, Swiss cheese, truffle and arugula. The lively atmosphere will be complemented by sips of Bonita Bonita from the legendary Nikki and Brie Garica, the vibrant Napa Valley wine will be available April 18 – 21. Red and white options will be available by the glass ($12) and by the bottle ($45).
Can’t make it to Allegiant Stadium? Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar will be hosting nightly watch parties on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20. The excitement continues on Monday, April 21 at 4 p.m. with FlankerMania Raw to close out the action-packed weekend as fans catch every thrilling moment on Flanker’s state-of-the-art screens.
Wrestling fans will be able to visit a secret speakeasy featuring Nikki Garcia’s Birdiebee apparel brand at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar. The Speakeasy will feature interactive activations, photo ops and an exclusive Birdiebee pop-up shop showcasing a preview of the new collection. The Birdiebee pop-up shop marks the highly anticipated return of the brand, founded by Garcia, which will launch online May 1 at Birdiebee.com. Birdiebee is a casual-wear collection that combines elevated essentials with powerful prints that promote empowerment, self-love and spirit.
Fans can visit The Speakeasy and shop at The Birdiebee pop-up shop daily on Friday, April 18 from 4 – 9 p.m. and Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20, from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. The Speakeasy featuring The Birdiebee Pop-Up Shop is exclusively located inside the venue.
“Authentically, what I always dreamed it would be… A creative expression, designed to inspire connection and community… A reminder to fearlessly stand for something… To stay strong and love everything that you are. This is my vibe, my vision, my Birdiebee.” — Nikki Garcia.
For more information and to make reservations, please visit www.flankerlv.com and follow Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar on Instagram.
About Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar
Carver Road Hospitality’s Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar is located in The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, steps from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and the walkway to Allegiant Stadium. Flanker’s menu of American favorites features knockout steaks, mouthwatering scratch burgers, premium seafood and chicken dishes, salads, fan-favorite starters, and over-the-top sweet treats. A Late-Night Pizza Party, weekend Brunch and Happy Hour round out its offerings. A full beverage program includes signature craft and large-format cocktails, and an enviable selection of 50-plus draft and bottled beers. A ceiling lighting design inspired by the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix track at night guides guests through the main dining room and towards its 30-foot-long LED viewing screen. Flanker’s highly customizable environments include a main dining room, bar and lounge, private dining suites, two private karaoke rooms, and 24-seat dining patio. For reservations, menus and additional information, visit flankerlv.com.
Carver Road Hospitality was founded in 2020 by award-winning hospitality executive Sean Christie and real estate, media, and marketing executive Nelson Famadas, From world-class dining to bespoke nightlife and lounge concepts, Carver Road Hospitality are creators, curators, marketers and operators of next-level hospitality brands with award-winning venues in New York City, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Boston, among other destinations. The company’s current portfolio includes: Carversteak at Resorts World Las Vegas; Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club in downtown Salt Lake City; a reimagined Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar concept at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium and Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino; Rosevale Kitchen + Cocktail Room and Starchild Rooftop at CIVILIAN hotel in New York City; and Seamark Seafood & Cocktails at Encore Boston Harbor. Carver Road maintains a strategic partnership with Casa Playa, the coastal Mexican restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas. The company is also an investor in the award-winning and fast-growing Emmy Squared Pizza with 21 locations across the country. Carver Road Hospitality is headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in Miami and New York City. For additional information, visit linktr.ee/carverroadhospitality.
Global Gaming League sent out a press release today to announce that they raised $10 million for its SAFE round led by Solyco Capital. The team owners will be T-Pain, Flavor Flav, Bryce Hall, and Ric Flair.
You can check out the official announcement below:
Global Gaming League Raises $10 Million Funding Round to Revolutionize Gaming Entertainment
GGL Set to Systemize and Monetize the World’s Largest Untapped Entertainment Audience – the over 3 billion people who play video games worldwide
Las Vegas, NV (April 8, 2025): The Global Gaming League (GGL), a global gaming entertainment and media company, announced today the raise of $10 million dollars for its SAFE round led by Solyco Capital. GGL was founded by Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum music producer and entrepreneur Clinton Sparks, in partnership with music icon T-Pain and tech visionary Jeff Hoffman (Priceline, UBid, Booking.com).
The Global Gaming League is a first of its kind multi-title gaming league with celebrity owned teams made up of four players each – high profile influencers, actors, athletes, artists, casual and professional gamers – who compete in live events playing everything from first person shooter, sports titles and fighting games to the latest releases and retro favorites. The GGL is not an esports league – it’s a gaming entertainment league that brings together every style of play and every kind of player. It’s multigenerational, multicultural, and converges gaming, music, sports, fashion, celebrity, competition and culture.
“There are over 3 billion gamers around the world,” said Clinton Sparks, Founder and CEO of GGL. “But there’s still no centralized platform that gives everyday players the spotlight—while authentically connecting brands, celebrities, and competition in a way that’s truly entertaining. That’s where GGL comes in. Imagine the energy of the Super Bowl, the fandom of Comic-Con, and the culture of ComplexCon and Coachella. There is currently no place for investors to have any meaningful return on a gaming investment, brands to consistently get an ROI with gaming, publishers to expand their IP to new audiences, celebrities to have an authentic footprint in gaming and nothing set up for all gamers to build a career as a gamer, and have a chance to be recognized globally as true athletes. Until now.”
The GGL’s matches will take place at their state-of-the-art campus and arena in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world and the home of the Global Gaming League. GGL’s studio facility The Campus powered by Vū, is set to elevate the city’s connection with the video gaming community forever. It is the most technologically advanced studio in the area, boasting the largest wrap-around digital screen in the Western U.S. (second only to Sphere) and 43,000 square feet of space with everything for Hollywood-level film and television production and VIP events of all kinds. GGL delivers unforgettable experiences, high-impact sponsorship moments, and a new entertainment format where the audience is just as important as the action.
“Everybody games,” said T-Pain, GGL Director of Strategy and team owner. “67% of people between the ages of 5 and 90 game in some form—in fact, more people watch video gaming than any sport (short of the NFL). 46% of gamers are female, colleges give scholarships for gaming now. and the average gamer is 36 years old, despite most thinking it’s only for kids. Gaming is a faster, cheaper and safer path to success than traditional sports. ”
The Global Gaming League is providing real opportunity for gamers around the world to be drafted and earn a salary as a player on a celebrity owned team through the global nomination submission process where gamers can log on to globalgamingleague.com and sign up. Since announcing this, the league has over a quarter of a million entries to play for one of the celebrity-owned teams.
The first team owners to be revealed include:
T-Pain – Grammy-winning artist and beloved voice in gaming culture
Bryce Hall – Tik-Tok star, Bare Knuckle brawler and digital entrepreneur
Flavor Flav – Hip hop legend, reality show icon, and official host of the 2024 Olympics.
Ric Flair – 16-time world champion legendary professional wrestler known for his flamboyant personality and signature catchphrase, “Wooooo!”
GGL will be announcing more team owners in the coming weeks pulling from music, film, sports, fashion, social media and gaming.
Game time is the new prime time.
Gaming is projected to surpass $300 billion by 2026—outpacing TV, film, and music combined. But it’s not just the revenue—it’s the attention. Unlike traditional media, where viewers are distracted, multitasking, or skipping ads, gaming commands full focus. There’s no second screen. No passive scrolling. Just millions of fully immersed fans, locked in and actively engaged.
For brands, this isn’t just a new channel—it’s a new kind of consumer. One who’s not just watching, but participating. One who’s emotionally invested in the moment and wide open to authentic brand experiences that enhance gameplay rather than interrupt it. This is where advertising stops feeling like an ad—and starts becoming part of the story.
“Gaming is a blue ocean opportunity for brands, investors, and new business. Gamers spend 30% more on retail than non-gamers and that number goes up in key categories like automobiles, travel and technology,” said John Garcia, Founder and Managing Partner of Solyco Capital. “Gamers don’t just play—they influence. Today’s gamer spans generations and lifestyles. They watch, buy, and move culture. When I met Clinton Sparks and listened to his vision, I knew this wasn’t just another business idea—it’s a key future in media.”
More Than a League — A Launchpad for Talent, Education, and Opportunity
The launch also includes the GGL Academy—a first-of-its-kind initiative focused on empowering advancement through gaming education, career pathways, and scholarship opportunities. The Academy is built to train, mentor, and connect aspiring gamers, creators, and professionals to real-world roles across the gaming, entertainment, and tech industries.
Strategic partnerships with NYU, UNLV, and Syracuse are already underway, building a direct pipeline from the classroom to the arena. With 74% of Gen Z expressing interest in careers in gaming or digital media, GGL is creating the infrastructure to meet that demand—especially in underserved communities where access to opportunity has been historically limited.
“I came out of retirement for this,” said Jeff Hoffman, GGL Chairman of the Board. “Because this isn’t just about gaming—it’s about access. GGL has the power to connect cultures, build international bridges, uplift underserved communities and close age gaps. And it’s not just meaningful—it’s good business. We’re building a platform that can monetize at scale while making a positive impact. That’s rare, and that’s why I’m all in.”
Sparks adds, “The Global Gaming League is positioned to make gaming a household name in the same manner that the WWE did with wrestling and the UFC did with mixed martial arts, by systemizing and democratizing an industry that already exists with billions of users and hundreds of billions already being generated. Get familiar with the Global Gaming League.”
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