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SPORTS              Thursday 30 January 2025
                                                                                                                           A7

            As the Chiefs chase a 3-peat, DeAndre Hopkins and other vets

            finally get their Super Bowl chance



            By DAVE SKRETTA                                                                                                     three consecutive Lombardi
            AP Sports Writer                                                                                                    Trophies  come  Super  Bowl
            KANSAS  CITY,  Mo.  (AP)  —                                                                                         Sunday.
            DeAndre Hopkins was stuck                                                                                           They  might  as  well  start
            on a downtrodden team in                                                                                            scheduling  these  February
            Tennessee  headed  for  the                                                                                         business trips.
            No. 1 overall pick in the draft.                                                                                    But for most players, including
            Kareem Hunt was stuck with-                                                                                         Hopkins, making it is akin to
            out a job at all.                                                                                                   a crowning achievement, a
            Yet  the  veteran  wide  re-                                                                                        moment they worked for their
            ceiver  and  running  back,                                                                                         entire career. In his case, that
            along with Marquise Brown,                                                                                          meant  178  regular-season
            D.J. Humphries and others,                                                                                          games  and  eight  more  in
            managed to strike gold as in,                                                                                       the playoffs.
            gold and diamond-encrust-                                                                                           His  combined  production
            ed AFC championship rings                                                                                           has meant more than 1,000
            when circumstances brought                                                                                          catches  and  13,000  yards,
            them to Kansas City.                                                                                                or roughly 7 1/2 miles worth
            Now, that collection of play-                                                                                       of receptions. And it meant
            ers  will  try  for  even  more                                                                                     many wins, but just as many
            riches when they face the                                                                                           losses.
            Philadelphia Eagles in the Su-                                                                                      So  it  was  quite  the  career
            per Bowl in a little more than   Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (8) runs with the ball past Buffalo Bills cornerback   lifeline for Hopkins when the
            a week, a remarkable twist   Kaiir Elam (5) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26,   Chiefs, who had lost Brown
            for NFL careers that had been   2025, in Kansas City, Mo.                                          Associated Press  and Rashee Rice to injuries,
            long on personal success but                                                                                        asked  the  Titans  about  a
            short on team results.       done just about everything in  in the league 12 years and I  straight trip to the big game,  trade. He joined a franchise
            “Words can’t really describe  his career but play for a true  haven’t gotten this far.”  and fifth in six years, as they  with a championship pedi-
            it,”  admitted  Hopkins,  a  championship contender. “A  The Chiefs have, of course.  try to become the first fran-  gree from a team that fin-
            three-time All-Pro, who had  dream come true. I’ve been  They are making their third  chise in NFL history to raise  ished 3-14 this past season. q

              MetaCorp continues to invest in Aruba:

              “The Balashi Beer Experience” to open at Gloria



              MetaCorp  and  its  subsidiary  Gloria  have  of-
              ficially  announced  an  exciting  new  devel-
              opment  for  Aruba:  “The  Balashi  Beer  Experi-
              ence.”  This  innovative  attraction  will  bring
              the story of Aruba’s iconic Balashi Beer to life
              through  immersive  video  projections,  vibrant
              imagery,  special  effects,  interactive  exhibits,
              and engaging games, culminating in a unique
              beer-tasting experience.


              The  attraction  promises  to  be  dynamic,  cre-
              ative,  and  interactive,  featuring  nine  differ-
              ent scenarios. Visitors will embark on a journey
              through the world of Balashi Beer and its home
              on Aruba, famously known as the "One Happy
              Island."
              Scheduled to open in 2026, “The Balashi Beer
              Experience” is expected to draw thousands of
              visitors annually. It will appeal to hotel tourists,
              cruise ship passengers, and adult residents of  sion  at  Gloria.  Its  addition  represents  a  sig-  like  the  pandemic,  MetaCorp  has  contin-
              Aruba, who have long supported the Balashi  nificant  milestone  in  Gloria's  evolution  as  a  ued to expand its investments. These include
              brand.                                         premier entertainment destination. It will also  opening The Movies in San Nicolas, investing in
                                                             complement  existing  offerings,  including  The  New York Laundry, Brouwerij Nacional Balashi,
              To ensure a world-class experience, MetaCorp  Movies, Olive Garden, P.F. Chang’s, and Star-  EcoTech,  and  developing  ATCO  Concrete
              enlisted the expertise of Sandenburg-DST, the  bucks.                                        into APEX. The company also launched Eco-
              Amsterdam-based  agency  behind  the  glob-    As Aruba’s oldest company, MetaCorp takes  Gas with branches in Noord and San Nicolas
              ally  acclaimed  “The  Heineken  Experience”  pride  in  consistently  seeking  opportunities  to  and added Antillean Soap Company (ANSO),
              and other award-winning brand experiences.  enhance  the  island’s  economy  and  tourism.  from  Curaçao,  to  its  portfolio,  which  includ-
              Sandenburg-DST has developed the concept  The company firmly believes in Aruba's poten-      ed  significant  investments  into  modernizing
              and is now working on the design for “The Bal-  tial and sees this investment as more than just  equipment and creating new products.
              ashi Beer Experience.”                         a new attraction—it’s an opportunity to cre-
                                                             ate jobs and further enrich the island's appeal.  For  updates  and  more  information  about
              This new attraction will occupy approximately                                                the development of “The Balashi Beer Experi-
              1,300 square meters within a planned expan-    Over the years, even during challenging times  ence,” visit: www.balashiexperience.com.q
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