EA Sports is showcasing Madden 11 in style with a special event dubbed “Madden Gras”.  Named after the iconic festival that takes place in New Orleans, Mardi Gras, this will commemorate their city’s Superbowl win and start off this year’s title defense.

Also, EA Sports “will make a $100,000 donation to the National Wildlife Federation to assist in the Gulf Coast oil spill relief and wetlands restoration efforts.”  Tom Goedde, Vice President of Marketing for EA SPORTS, says that this “integrated marketing campaign brings Madden to the People via dozens of touch points, leveraging the strength of a break-through feature set and the cultural significance of this franchise.”

Set to release across the states tomorrow, make sure to pick up a copy for yourself by taking advantage of this special offer!

Held in New Orleans, in honor of Drew Brees, the first fan-voted cover athlete in the history of the franchise, Madden Gras will resemble an authentic New Orleans-styled event. Madden Gras will include a parade through some of New Orleans most popular streets, featuring themed floats and commemorative beads, appearances by several former NFL superstars and musical guests. As the official retail partner of Madden Gras, GameStop will host first-to-play game kiosks for fans to get ready for the midnight launch. Musical guests playing at Madden Gras include Big Boi and local New Orleans bands such as Galactic, Cowboy Mouth, and the Rebirth Brass Band. Appearances will also be made by former NFL superstars including Marshall Faulk, Rickey Jackson (member of the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class), Marcus Allen, Deuce McAllister and Bobby Hebert, among others.