This month we caught up with Overtime Sportsbroadcaster, Influencer, and Content Creator Megan Eugenio! For the past few years, Overtime Megan has brought her passion for sports as a fan of NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB to the digital platform. We wanted to know more about how she got into the industry and how she turned her love for an array of games as a fan to talking with our favorite athletes and giving her insights on the games. We also talked about stories that she is focused on this season, upcoming projects, and being a fan of Tate Mcrae.

In addition to talking with her about this and more, we also did an inbook editorial photoshoot with her at Magaritaville Resort Times Square showcasing 5 looks that you can incorporate into your Fall style wherever your travels take you!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with sports?

MEGAN EUGENIO: I first fell in love with sports when I was 12 years old. This is a funny story. I had a crush on a boy and he loves Dwyane Wade and at the time, he was on the winning Miami Heat team - the big 3 with LeBron James and Chris Bosh. I decided at the ripe age, I think I was in like 5th or 6th grade, I was like, “I’m going to also become a Dwyane Wade fan. I’m gonna watch the NBA.” Then from there just by doing that and making that decision, because my family was not a big sports family, and I grew up in Boston as well, which is a big sports city. I both had the boss is pretty big, big sports.

AM: Boston is a pretty big sports town – you know they don’t play about their sports!

ME: From there, I just realized that this is pretty cool. I love the culture. I love the atmosphere. I love, just like the glitz and glamor of the NBA specifically as well. I didn’t know that I wanted to work in it. Around the age of 18, when I moved to NYC, I realized the sport scene here was so immersive and so welcoming, because at the time, the NYC teams were not doing too good. You know, the Knicks were definitely at their downfall. But it made me realize that I wanted to be a part of something. So I fell in love with the idea of being part of something.

When it comes to me, I was and am terrible at sports! I was not good!

AM: You’re like, “I am a fan – period!”

ME: Period!

I did not make the 5th grade basketball team. I was at the bottom of the batting list on my softball team. But I did cheer, and I did pageants. I love being girly, but I love being girly in this space, so I first fell in love with realizing like this is something I could be a part of. I can join it in this way. Here’s a family. Here’s a group of people, and we all have the same interest. I think that’s also true when you’re younger, you’re kind of finding things like that. It’s like finding a club or a hobby –

AM: Right!

ME: So, for me, joining and being part of these Sports fandoms was something of that nature.

AM: And what’s your first memory of being at a professional game?

ME: It’s funny, so growing up in Boston, it’s a big sports city, I was never a Boston fan because I never went to games! So when I moved to NYC, that’s when I got my first taste of it, and this is before I was even working at Overtime because I only had a month and a half of not working at Overtime into my freshman year. In that month and a half, I had very little money, but I used that money to take myself to a pre-season game at Madison Square Garden - Knicks versus Nets. I remember sitting by myself and posting an Instagram photo - my feet were up on the seat because it was preseason, it was empty and I wrote, “I could get used to this!”

AM: Oh wow!

ME: I thought it was just so casual. I was like, you know what I’m by myself, I’m gonna enjoy this.

AM: Yeah!

ME: My first NBA game ever, I went by myself pre-season, and that was my first memory of like seeing all the guys on the court and I knew I needed to do something with this. I didn’t know what I was going to do because I didn’t have it in my mind like that. I didn’t see influencing as a thing in 2018, I would say it was more YouTubers, and I had a more normal Instagram, so I didn’t know that I was going to work in it, but all I knew was that I felt some sort of connection. Maybe it was the Invisible String Theory (Editor’s Note: This theory is a metaphorical concept suggesting that people destined to meet are connected by an unseen bond, a belief rooted in fate, spirituality, and folklore. It is not a scientific theory and proposes that the universe will eventually bring these connected individuals together, regardless of distance or time)?

AM: Interesting.

ME: Even though I was not an athletic girl myself, I’m like, there’s something here as I’m eating my pretzel with mustard and I can feel it!

AM: So, how did you get that start? Admittedly not being an athlete yourself and being a fan and knowing that there was an interest and something that – how did it synergize?

ME: It started to synergize when I met someone that worked for Overtime. He was also one of their interns I believe that was around my age, and we started striking up a conversation just through social media. I was going through Instagram and I was trying to find a bunch of friends in the city. My idea of making friends within school and in the city was just like cast the widest net you can and whoever reels in.

AM: Sure.

ME: So we struck up a conversation about sports, and I asked him, “would you be able to get me a job? I’ll do anything. I’ll make copies. I’ll take out the trash. I will literally do whatever you want. I will literally just like print papers all day long.” He was young and was like, “let me ask my manager.” I had no experience whatsoever. He sent me his manager’s phone number. I gave her a call. She called me back about a week later, and she’s like, “you should come on in for an interview. Overtime at the time, had I think 880,000 followers if I remember correctly. I only had 2,000 followers. I grew up and I knew about Overtime, in high school because they became a thing around 2016/17 so I knew of Overtime, but I didn’t know what this was going to entail.

I went in for an interview, and these 2 guys who were also, you know, early 20s, it’s a very Gen Z company, 45 employees at the time running the whole operation. They let me know that they could use a little extra hand around here. And little did I know that extra hand would turn into a year later of what now influencing is for me – what content creation is for me. It really started to synergize for me by just asking! Closed mouths, don’t get fed.

AM: Facts!

ME: That’s been a huge motto of my career because you never know who’s going to say yes. This was pretty early in 2018, I had my 19th birthday in the office. It was pretty awesome, but realizing what Overtime had given me once they said yes It was pretty awesome, but realizing what Overtime had given me once they said yes - that was when my love for the sport and this opportunity actually arose where it synergized. So thank you Overtime! They were my foundation, they were my first step, and they still are!

AM: It’s amazing that you’ve been able to merge sports and your digital presence together which is phenomenal and to do it in such an organic way, that’s just what it is!

ME: Yes, and I had to learn as I went too because I didn’t know I wanted to be an influencer. I didn’t even know that was a word at the time. I didn’t know what a content creator was at the time. I fell into it, and this was a year into my job as I started in October 2018. I got introduced to TikTok through Overtime, which is a funny story in August of 2019.

AM: But still, the early days! I’m sure at the time you were like, “but is this even worth it, is this gonna be the next wave?”. And then, it’s like, yeah.

ME: Well, that was the whole thing. My CEO Dan Porter and then our Head of Social Thomas Weingarten, Tommy sat me down. They told me that there was a new app and that it was taking over. Now obviously growing up, like there had been millions – well maybe not millions.

AM: True but there were so many apps that everyone was on and then they weren’t like Vine.

ME: Oh yeah multiple apps – Kick, Keek, so many and a lot of them had not lasted the test of time.

AM: Exactly.

ME: I’m like, “what do you mean?” Like, there’s our big 4 - there’s Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram. Those are the big 4, that’s all you get, and those are the big apps that we’re going to get. They’re like, no, this is a thing - it’s going to be huge. You better get on it, and I was like, that’s for children. And they’re like, just do it. So I go on. They send me 2 TikToks. I think one of them was, like, the Obsessed Dance by Mariah Carey.

AM: Right.

ME: I was, like, dancing not my thing.

AM: You’re like, no.

ME: Yeah, but I’m like, I’m not gonna do that. I’m just gonna put text bubbles on the screen and point to them of my favorite NBA players to see if there’s a community there that’s gonna like that. I think, because I got on in 2019, the pre-COVID boom, I got lucky kind of solidifying my foot as a content creator, as a girl who likes sports in the space in August 2019. Within my first month, I think I got 150,000, which was crazy to say!

Then I realized that people were watching me

AM: You didn’t have to dance.

ME: You know, I can’t dance. But I can tell you that I really like the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks for some odd reason, and I was very much a casual sports fan, but I think also like, at the time, my audience was either my age or a little younger. It was just something you know, it’s like, who’s this, girl, and she’s so young, and she’s working for the sports company that we watch online – how did she get this job, and so I think that’s how it started it as well.

AM: As a sports broadcaster at Overtime, tell me about the network and the sports that you cover. You seem to cover a number of them.

ME: Yeah, so we we’re primarily a Gen Z Sports digital platform. We primarily cover basketball, and that was, I would say the first five years of the company was primarily basketball. Soon, we expanded to football, and now we have a Boxing League. Now we have our own Football League. We have our own Basketball League itself, so it really started with the NBA, and then I would say post COVID really transitioned into a lot of NFL. I do hockey on the side myself because we don’t really have a hockey section at Overtime.

The network is now just so fast it can go to, you know, tennis, the US Open is quite large. It can go to golf - The Masters. It can go to quite literally anything you can think of. Or, I would say, you know, the non-athletic sector like sports trading cards.

The network is so vast, a lot of it is a healthy mix of what Overtime does which is their leagues and their coverage and then what I do on the side, which is like hockey, trading cards and all that grand stuff. It’s been very diverse, which is fun, but I, I do have to say basketball was my first love and it still is obviously one of the biggest sports, and we still have so many amazing players in the league, but you know, it is fun combining different audiences.

AM: Oh yeah.

ME: The NFL and also doing the NHL, like me personally, different sports myself that aren’t really conventional, like skiing and snowboarding and opening up to those audiences, which has been a lot of fun, kind of unlocking, especially even like Olympic sports. I’ve been loving that!

AM: What’s an average week like for you? Whether it’s you being a commentator or doing a live event, hosting or content creating - what’s going on in Megan’s week?

ME: It’s so funny, because I think I used to do so much travel to the point where I couldn’t even buy groceries that I was never home, and that was when I was younger. I was hitting up every single event and it was really fun. I would say 21/22, we were all over the place, and now lately it’s been a lot of NY based things I’m right in the city where there’s a lot of great opportunities here. A week in the life looks pretty much like finding all the events that are going on in the city that are sports related.

So, we have home openers, which around this time, we have NFL games, we had MLB playoffs for the Yankees and in the Summer we had Mets games. So it’s a healthy mix of attending events and activations, which can be put on by companies or by athletes. There are lots of collaborations, which those are great for content because they are very laid back sorts of settings for getting content and interviews. It’s also very accessible! You can take the subway downtown and hit 3 events - very simple. If we’re traveling, we’re going to a game, we’re going to Super Bowls, we’re going to the Olympics, we’re going to home openers, We’re going to practices of other teams – that is something that is more the atypical weeks.

AM: Right.

ME: A lot of time when we’re here, we go in the studio, and we film at Overtime. I hit up a lot of games, and I make content there. I go to some practices sometimes. So, it’s just a lot of reaching out and seeing what we have in the city, which is quite a lot of events that we have going on. Even in my daily life doing what I do, even going to like a Tate McRae concert - there’s a New York Rangers legend goalie there, and even just taking a photo of him and posting it all these things all kind of circle into the orbit of sports content.

Whether it’s personal or not personal, whether it’s paid or unpaid. So it’s just a lot of fun events, a lot of sports games, and a lot of showing my daily life as well is part of my content.

AM: Absolutely!

ME: I’m very blessed that everything I do and everything I enjoy. It doesn’t even feel like work I should say.

AM: Why is it important to you to have your hands in all these areas as the commentator, the event host, and the content creator? It’s always great to have such a diverse portfolio. But what does it mean to you?

ME: So everything that I do has a special place in my heart. So, as a content creator, I’ve always been someone that doesn’t believe in, like fitting in the one hat. So you have to have multiple hats, multiple positions. You have to have your hands dipped in many places because having all those under your belt - it just shows that you’re a multifaceted person. I think a lot of times when I was viewing people online as well, I always felt like there’s one thing, and that’s their thing.

AM: True.

ME: I don’t love that idea! I love discovering new things about different people, like it’s so cool to see. Like, oh my God, she snowboards – never knew that. For me, it’s so amazing, to showcase those different parts of yourself and show that you’re human. We are human and behind the screen, there’s so much more to discover.

I’m someone that likes to throw it all out there. I don’t believe in putting yourself in a box and only having 3 things for people to remember about you. I’m like, no, here’s all of it. Put it on the platter, and I’m not going to knock one of these things off the plate. They’re all on the plate. This is for you guys to digest because there’s an audience for everything, and there’s so many untapped presences and content opportunities in different areas that if you actually think of it - like skiing and snowboarding in winter sports. I’ve been doing that my whole life and I didn’t think about posting it for my content until last season. I was like, I can’t believe I never shared this part of myself. It’s a very popular sport, and also I feel like there’s this notion that everyone hates the cold and hates Winter, and I’m like, well, that’s because you gotta try. You gotta find your place! This Summer I started sailing, and that’s a whole untapped area! There’s the Grand Prix and there’s a whole sports area of that. Even DJ Khaled was hosting that. So there are different areas that people aren’t used to seeing outside of the big 4 main sports in America that I like to showcase because I’m equally as interested in them.

Someone, also seeing another Creator doing that. They’ll be like, wait, I like this. They like this. This is cool, it’s becoming mainstream - same with golf - same with pickleball. There’s always people that want representation of those sports.

AM: A 100%!

You touched on this before as we have been talking about the big 4 throughout this interview. This time of year is just crazy because we do have the World Series, so MLB is ending. But then, we’re in the midpoint of the NFL and literally today as we have been talking, preseason of the NBA started! Of course, you have, the NHL which also just started. So, are there any stories and teams that you have your eye on that we should be thinking about as we start navigating this awesome schedule?

ME: Yes,, for sure!

Obviously, I’m a big Knicks girly! We just hired a new Head Coach, Mike Brown so I’m really excited to see what he’s been doing. I haven’t been to any pre-season games yet, but their Home Opener Is tomorrow, Oct 22nd against the Cleveland Cavaliers and then the next night, is against the Boston Celtics. So those are two, I would say really high stakes games. They both have really great players on opposing teams. So, it’s going to be really good to see how the Knicks hold themselves up against those teams with a new coach. The Knicks have gotten better since I’ve started being a fan, so I really do think that the Knicks have an even better opportunity than last year to be in the playoffs. But, new coach. We’ll see how it goes, but I think he’s got the charisma and the stamina to really last throughout the season with this team, with all of the pressure.

Hockey. My tried and true! I love hockey so much! I love Winter. I’m a Winter girl. I love the ice! I love the snow! There’s a huge Canadian aspect of it. I just love hockey, so I’m excited to hit a few games. I think I’m going to a game in November with one of my friends. I have that planned, but it’s so funny, because a lot of the times that I go to Madison Square Garden for Knicks or Rangers or whatever, maybe concerts. I always kind of find out last minute. So, I really don’t plan out what games I’m gonna go to.

Speaking of Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays are in the World Series for the first time in a long time! I’m super excited! I love Canada. Toronto is one of my favorite cities to visit, and so that’s going to be amazing as well.

My Jets are not doing their best. They have some improvements to be made, and I still love them, and I’ll still be rooting them on because the day that they win the Super Bowl. I can say I was there from the beginning. I’m still excited to see what they do and then see if they can turn it around a little bit!

AM: I love it.

You know, we’re always excited about hearing about people’s fitness routines, because we’re always like, what should we be putting into ours? So when you’re not doing all the things that you’re doing, how do you stay in shape?

ME: Oh my goodness! Every single day - the gym - every single day. I live two blocks from my gym, so I don’t give myself an excuse!

AM: Nice.

ME: In the morning, I wake up and I have to fit in at least an hour of workout in a day, and I really believe in the cardio aspect. I love the cardiovascular health, part of it. I’m a little bit into my weights and I try to get some strength in there. But I just believe getting your heart rate up every single day, it’s so good for your blood flow. It’s so good for anti-aging, it’s good for your endorphins. There’s so many things to it that are beneficial, and I think a lot of people in America live a very sedentary lifestyle and can’t find the time. So I’m like, even if I can only find 30 minutes – I have to do it. I think it’s very important just for you to destress. And I mean, if you really want to, you can even get work done on your treadmill.

But it’s so important! I don’t care what hour of the day I workout - I’m not super strict on that. I typically try to go in the morning. I get a smoothie after or I make one at home. Maybe I’ll go at night. I wish my gym was 24 hours, because then I’d probably go at 1am.

AM: Yes! Nobody’s here!

ME: You’ve gotta fit it in somewhere! I have a vice and I like to indulge in fast food sometimes. So it’s about discipline. If I am going to eat whatever I want on cheat days, you better be working out! I allow myself, I would say 1 or 2 cheat days. And those are typically on the weekends for obvious reasons.

It’s nice to have a rest and you know, walking around NYC itself is, you know, it’s a very active city.

AM: Oh yeah.

ME: Up the subway stairs, down the subway stairs. You’re walking to all your errands because you’re not driving to any of it. So on average, it’s very easy to get 20,000 steps a day here or more. I think I’ve hit like 45,000 one day, which is absurd.

AM: Totally, on some of those days where there are a lot of previews, stacked events, meetings etc, you will hit those large numbers. A normal day could be 18,000 easily but when it goes to 35,000 or more – that’s when I know I was really doing a lot!

ME: I know right? It’s crazy! So many people are like 10K and I’m like, live in NYC and you’ll see! Especially if you have the time to walk!

Oh my goodness, it’s crazy. I used to live at the bottom of the island in Battery Park. I’m on the UES now, and my sister also lives near me. If I had the whole day on a Sunday, I’d walk to her and that was part of my workout. Getting your steps in - you really can’t do any wrong there, but it is definitely important to fit in. You also need to focus on you cardiovascular health, a sauna here and there, a cold plunge.

AM: Oh yeah.

ME: All those things –

AM: I’m obsessed with Red Light Therapy.

ME: Yes! Infrared Sauna! Love it! Very important. I love a good sauna. I’m not too much of a stream room fan, but I’m a sauna girly for life, but it’s, it’s just, you know, there’s so many things you can do your body that are bad for it. That’s why you have to use discipline, and you have to, you have to put in the time for those good things in order to enjoy life fully.

AM: What does it mean for you to be a woman in sports? You have an Emmy, you use your platform to share your passion for sports but to also share other aspects as well. You talk about fashion, fitness, beauty and lifestyle. What does all of that mean to you?

ME: What it means to me is showcasing myself through a platform where people can feel is relatable and accessible. I never wanted to feel that I was someone that you couldn’t reach that you couldn’t feel like you’re approaching. When I started all this, like I said, I feel like I just got lucky. And once I realized that I took it by the reigns? This is what you’re going to do, and this is the first thing you are now, but I never lost the sense of just being grateful to be here for all these different opportunities, and I think just by, you know, showing all these parts of myself that are true to me that were here before social media. It definitely encompasses all of it. I’m a casual sports fan. I’m just a girl in New York City. Yep, there’s so many aspects to it that make it enjoyable because you are just presenting yourself in your truest form. It takes a lot of learning for sure. When you get started out with all of that, but what it means to me is, you know, you’re filming moments of yourself that you want to share with people. Whether it be good, bad, real, raw, authentic, or branded.

AM: Right.

ME: As long as you’re doing that and you’re having a good time, I think that’s all that matters. You’re connecting with people from all over the world that you never would have connected with and it means sharing experiences.

It means meeting people on the street that I never thought I would meet. It means all of these doors opening that I never thought I would have had, and I do it internally for like the little Megan inside of me, but outwardly for everyone else. I don’t know if I can put it into words, but it means having this big family out there in the world and having 600,000 followers, but, that’s 600,000 friends that can approach you and that you could have a connection with. I think as someone who grew up who was a little more dorky, who wasn’t into sports, who wasn’t the popular girl - I think that’s really cool. I think it’s even cooler that people feel like they know me through the different areas that I touch and post about.

AM: What advice do you have for women that are looking to enter the field? Yes, sports, but also stepping into the social/digital platform like anything that they should know before embarking on it?

ME: Something that people should know, especially women is that we all know that the easy answer is, you’re going to get critiqued.

AM: Right.

ME: I think, critique when, when delivered healthily, when you know, not in a bullying manner, I think, is a really nice thing for people to actually give their opinion and see how people are receiving what you’re putting out there. I believe in staying true to yourself, but there’s gonna be people who are a little more on the hater side, a little more on the trolling side, and you have to remember anybody that is coming at you for what you’re doing - you’re doing something right. If they’re coming at you in a negative tone, they’re behind their keyboard. They want to be in your position.

AM: Oh yeah.

ME: You know, there are a lot of people out there that don’t want to see women winning, especially in the sports field. They don’t want to see women here. They don’t want to see a woman next to their favorite athlete or even interviewing them. There’s a sense of like, “I must tear this down”. There’s a big problem with that, and it’s something that I have personally experienced on the daily, but all I’m going to say is, you be strong. You go out there, you don’t dim your light.

AM: That’s right.

ME: You don’t try to outshine others. You just try to outshine the person you were yesterday.

AM: Yes.

ME: I think there’s so much strength in appreciating the men around you, appreciating the other women around you. You don’t have to always be this person that comes in and tears everything.

AM: Exactly.

ME: All you have to do is bring yourself, bring it strong, say what you gotta say! I’m a big advocate for women being outspoken in all senses because I definitely am and I’m like, just say what you gotta say, You’re not going to dim your light. Do not put on a hat. Don’t try to be a façade – come in and be unapologetically you. They will love you for it, and you don’t have to fit into these molds, especially in sports. People think you have to fit in and that being a reporter, everyone thinks you have to be buttoned up - no. I know Gen Z slang in my interviews sometimes. You have to do whatever you think is natural to you and not what the world wants of you.

AM: Well, Halloween is around the corner. I know you are a super Tate McRae fan and that you have been her for Halloween. Are you going to be her for Halloween again this year?

ME: I am! I love Tate McRae! I have been her the last 2 years. My costume is actually out on my kitchen table. There’s glue everywhere. It’s all stuck on the table and I have to figure out how to get it off, but I’m doing her white outfit. It’s like a white jersey, a corset and some shorts and some black boots, and it’s all bedazzled. Hers, says T. And an 8 for Tate and mine says OT so I’m excited for that. It’s proving to be quite difficult, and I have a whole new found appreciation for costume designers.

AM: Oh yeah.

ME: In the music industry world, because my goodness, those rhinestones hand placed, every single last one of them!

AM: Yes, it takes hours!

ME: It’s taken me - I think I should have set a timer. I think if I had to guess I spent so far around six hours, and I’ve I’m not even close.

AM: Yeah, you probably have like another eight to go.

ME: Yes! And she noticed me the first year that I was here which was pretty funny!

AM: You have so many things going on. Are there any projects coming up that we should keep an eye out for? Should we just be watching your Instagram to see when you’re popping up next?

ME: We do have something coming out that I am very excited for! I’m having my commercial debut for the NFL which I believe is coming out Week 10. It will be in the NFL shop and I am repping my NY Jets in it. We also filmed a Europe commercial, which I believe is already out. We can’t see because we’re in the United States, but the next one is coming out Week 10, and that’s really cool. I’ve always wanted to be on TV and getting to see myself like in the middle of a game is going to be really cool.

AM: That’s amazing.

ME: Yeah, I’m really excited for that. I’m getting into the sports trading card space and there’s some conversations around possibly doing some things like that within the within the creation of it. You know, it’s called Live Breaks when you open the card packs and so there’s a huge audience there that I’ve been tapping into. So, maybe we’re going to start something there with that, and then, of course, the Winter Olympics, which are in February. We are going to those in Cortina, Italy, which I’m really excited to create content there.

AM: That’s awesome!

ME: So I’m hoping to win our 2nd Emmy.

AM: What did you feel like when you won an Emmy as that’s major!

ME: I didn’t even know at first! Last year, we went to the Olympics. It was a collaboration of the first of its kind. NBC and Peacock were integrating digital content creators and digital platforms and the content that we created for them had such a different outreach, because I feel like a lot of Gen Z people aren’t really watching the Olympics as much as in years past. To be an Olympian, you know, that’s a future accomplishment. So, for them to realize, we’re going to start using the digital Market and start tapping into it there, it was amazing, and it was the best opportunity. We got to go to Paris, and we did a lot of man on the street interviews with fans, and just kind of showed what the energy is in a city hosting the Olympics, and I found out when I was on the StairMaster when I was in LA. I was in LA and I found out I got the email and it was like you’re an Emmy winner and I was like – what and I ordered my trophy right away! I literally brought that trophy with me everywhere that Summer!

AM: I mean, as you do.

ME: I love her. It’s the coolest thing I put it out. It’s in my living room. It’s on my table when you first walk on.

AM: I would do the same thing! I’d have my tea by it and might high five it every now and again when I leave!

ME: Absolutely, absolutely. I think I wax that thing down with Windex 24/7 in the case. I love checking on her!

IG @overtimemegan

We enjoyed our shoot which showcased Fall looks that you can incorporate into your style whether you’re in NYC or traveling to other destinations. Megan wore looks in Fitness, WFH, Lounge, Out + About, Swim, as well as for a Night Out.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME | TEAM CREDITS

PHOTOGRAPHER Paul Farkas | FASHION STYLIST Kimmie Smith | MUA Felicia Graham | HAIR STYLIST Lea DeLoy |

IG @pvfarkas

@shes.kimmie

@feliciagrahambeauty_

@hairbyleadeloy

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME | STYLE CREDITS

FITNESS LOOK | TRACKSMITH Run Cannon Ball Run Sport Bra + Run Surf Run Shorts | KIMMIE VINCENT Moira Necklace, Sienna Necklace, Ashlynn Bracelet + Drea Bracelet | LAGOS Silver Link Bracelet | WHOOP One | NIKE Vomero 18 |

SWIM LOOK | CIA MARITIMA Bikini | CAMILLA Oversized Hooded Kaftan | WHOOP One |

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Our inbook editorial with Megan took place at Margaritaville Resort Times Square which is known for their beachy vibes, an array of restaurants and bars, as well as a heated rooftop pool that is year around! We wanted to know more about this property, neighborhood, NYE, and more. Director of Marketing Blaine McCurry shares this and more with us.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into this particular property, can you give our readers a bit of backstory on the Margaritaville brand as many may know it from the song, drinks, blender etc. They may not be as familiar of it from the hospitality end.

BLAINE MCCURRY: Margaritaville, a state of mind since 1977, is a global lifestyle brand inspired by Jimmy Buffett, whose songs evoke a passion for tropical escape and relaxation. Margaritaville’s portfolio includes over 40 lodging locations and over 20 additional projects in the pipeline positioned across a variety of full-service and boutique hotel and resort brands, branded real estate, and gaming properties, all complemented by an extensive suite of food and beverage concepts, including Margaritaville Restaurant, award-winning JWB Prime Steak and Seafood, 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, and LandShark Bar & Grill.

AM: What would you say is the ethos of the Margaritaville hotels that guests can expect regardless of the location that they are at?

BM: Margaritaville Resort Times Square brings a vibrant energy and relaxed sophistication to the iconic Times Square. Inspired by the carefree spirit of Margaritaville, the resort reimagines the tropical lifestyle to match Manhattan. Guests are welcomed by thoughtfully designed spaces that blend laid-back luxury with bold city style, from lively dining venues and a year-round outdoor heated pool to elegant guest rooms with skyline views. The escapist charm of Margaritaville and electric rhythm of Times Square allow the resort to offer an oasis where island time meets urban adventure.

AM: Looking at Margaritaville Resort Times Square, when did it open and what sets this particular property apart from the other ones that guests may have gone too?

BM: Opened in 2021, Margaritaville Resort Times Square brought a special element to Midtown Manhattan with its island-inspired design and relaxed luxury. The 32-story resort features 234 guest rooms, an outdoor heated pool, and signature dining like the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar and LandShark Bar & Grill. An alternative from classic Times Square hotels, Margaritaville Resort Times Square offers a playful escape, embracing the iconic laid-back legacy.

AM: Tell us about the design aesthetic of the property as you literally feel like you have walked into a beach especially since there is a massive flip flop as soon as you walk in!

BM: Margaritaville Resort Times Square blends tropical ease with urban sophistication through a playful yet polished design. Created by Stonehill Taylor and The McBride Company, the interiors channel a breezy, coastal aesthetic, with nods to Margaritaville’s iconic lifestyle.

From the tiki bar and vibrant murals to the rooftop oasis with skyline views, every space transports guests to an island state of mind, all while embracing the energy and edge of Times Square.

AM: Whether you are a guest or you are in the neighborhood, tell us about each of the restaurants/bars that are on property that we can enjoy as there are 5! Can you also share 3 dishes you would suggest at each one?

BM: The property features two on-site restaurants and four bars.

Margaritaville Restaurant & Tiki Bar is the vibrant centerpiece of the resort. This two-story restaurant captures the lively spirit of Margaritaville with island-inspired cuisine and one of New York’s largest tiki bars. The playful décor, including a 30-foot-tall Statue of Liberty replica holding a margarita glass, and energetic atmosphere make it a necessary stop for both guests and locals.

Recommended Dishes: Cheeseburger in Paradise, Volcano Nachos, Cuban Flatbread (new lunch favorite)

LandShark Bar & Grill is located poolside. It offers casual dining with a tropical twist. Guests can enjoy refreshing drinks and fresh, flavorful bites while soaking up the sun or unwinding by the year-round heated outdoor pool.

Recommended Dishes: Buffalo Chicken Dip, Homemade Banana Pudding, Seafood Steam Pot

5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar is perched atop the 31st and 32nd floors of the hotel. This rooftop bar delivers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline paired with delicious cocktails, elevated light bites including the Chef’s specially selected charcuterie board, and a laid-back island vibe.

Recommended Dishes: Wagyu Sliders, Charcuterie Board, Teriyaki Chicken Tacos

License to Chill Bar can be found in the lobby area. Guests can relax by cozy fire pits while sipping signature margaritas and craft beverages. The warm, inviting space balances casual comfort with stylish design.

Margaritaville Coffee Shop is a convenient spot located on the seventh floor that serves coffee, quick bites, and grab-and-go essentials. This spot is ideal for busy travelers looking for a pick-me-up before exploring the city or heading to meetings.

AM: If you’re at Margaritaville, you have to have a margarita! What are 3 that we should have out eye on?

BM: At the Margaritaville restaurant, we recommend the Perfect Margarita, the Last Mango in Paris or the Seaside Hacienda.

AM: Tell us about the room options for those that are staying at the hotel, as well as the design approach, and the in-room amenities that are offered.

BM: The Margaritaville Resort Times Square provides island-style luxury accommodations in the heart of Manhattan with room options including Standard, Deluxe, and Premium rooms, each available with one King, one Queen, or two Double beds, as well as luxury suites, all featuring accessible options. The design approach creates a tropical escape through contemporary furnishings and a paradise-inspired color palette, complemented by premium bedding and spa-like bathrooms. The suites also feature luxury with walk-in rain showers and plush bathrobes, and Premium rooms include soundproof windows.

AM: For guests staying at the hotel, tell us about the common areas and what they have access to.

BM: The common areas include the Margaritaville Pool, restaurants, the Fins Up Fitness Center, the Margaritaville Retail Store and more. Dining and drinks are central to the resort experience, with options including the Margaritaville Restaurant & Tiki Bar, LandShark Bar & Grill, the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar, the License to Chill Bar, and the ground-level Margaritaville Coffee Shop. For guests focused on wellness, the lower-level Fins Up Fitness Center is fully equipped. Additionally, guests can enjoy daily room service offering island-inspired bites and cocktails.

AM: The rooftop pool is such a fun amenity, and it is heated year around! Tell us more about this.

BM: Located on the 6th floor of the resort, the rooftop pool and sun deck boast an outdoor heated pool, open year-round. The spacious wooden sundeck includes loungers, umbrellas, complimentary towels, and more. The deck also features LandShark Bar & Grill, where guests can get snacks, drinks, and more. Open from 8AM to 8PM, the space is family-friendly, delivering a tropical retreat to those who need a break from the city.

AM: Although the pool is available for guests, you also have day passes for those that would like to use this. Can you tell us more about this and do you offer that package year around?

BM: Yes, year-round, there is a limited number of day passes available for non-guests on select dates. Cabana reservations and availability inquiries can be made directly with the front desk.

AM: When it comes to being a guest at a hotel, you could be traveling for vacation, a staycation, business, or live in the neighborhood and just want to come in to enjoy - why is this hotel such a great option for these kinds of guests?

BM: Guests are welcomed by thoughtfully designed spaces that blend laid-back luxury with bold city style, from lively dining venues and a year-round outdoor heated pool to elegant guest rooms with skyline views. The escapist charm of Margaritaville and electric rhythm of Times Square allow the resort to offer an oasis where island time meets urban adventure. The Nautical Wheeler Boardroom at Margaritaville Resort Times Square offers a refreshing departure from the ordinary, infused with the brand’s signature laid-back style while delivering the functionality needed for modern gatherings.

AM: The location of the hotel is in Times Square which makes it so central and accessible. Can you tell us about partnerships that you have with surrounding businesses that allows guests to get even more at their stay whether it was with the Edge in Hudson Yards, Shopping, Museums, etc?

BM: Margaritaville Resort Times Square features a mix of wellness and food and beverage experiences for guests to enjoy during their stay. The property partners with Sputnik Yoga to host rooftop yoga classes every Thursday and Saturday, allowing guests to start their day strong while enjoying the skyline views. The property also hosts SURFSET classes on Sundays, where guests can try a surfing simulation, allowing for a full-body workout with a twist. Classes are offered seasonally during the warmer months of the year.

The property also has a unique partnership with Edge NYC, where guests can book the Golden Hour Getaway, with 15% off their stay, a $50 dining credit at 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar, and two tickets to Edge NYC.

AM: As we’re in the Fall, are there any promotions or packages that you would like for our community to know about?

BM: Margaritaville Resort Times Square will be offering a Cyber Week promotion starting on November 18 and running through December 5. Stays can take place between November 20, 2025 and December 31, 2026. Guests will be able to get 40% off their stay. They can find more information in the Margaritaville Times Square newsletters.

AM: In terms of the Holiday season, especially with NYE, tell us what you have going on during this time of year!

BM: Ring in 2026 from Margaritaville’s rooftop, with gorgeous views of Times Square as the crowd’s countdown. Attendees can head to the property’s spacious terrace to celebrate in style while enjoying a front row view of the ball dropping. Margaritaville Times Square will also be hosting the Gala in Paradise, the ultimate New Year’s Eve celebration, where tropical vibes meet Times Square energy. For a more intimate and VIP experience, Margaritaville has 7 Ball Drop View Suites that offer a rare chance to watch the ball drop from the comfort of a private room. Sip champagne, enjoy tasty bites with warm slippers, and the best view in town.

AM: Are there any upcoming events taking place that you would like for us to know about that you are involved!

BM: Pickle Cocktail Class – Saturday, November 22, 2025 | 2–4 PM

Guests will toast with Ole Smoky Moonshine Pickles before learning to make a Classic Pickletini and a Spicy Pickle Margarita. Participants remake their favorite cocktail, take home a recipe card, and earn a “Mixology Degree.” Tickets: $20.

Holiday Mixology Class – Saturday, December 20, 2025 | 6–8 PM

This festive edition brings holiday cheer Margaritaville-style, complete with a Christmas Island Pop-Up cocktail, a collectible holiday cup, and a surprise holiday gift. Tickets: $50.

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