Backstreet Boys vs. *NSYNC: Producer Proposes Epic Golf Face-Off in Las Vegas
Riley Carter here. Okay, but like… why is this a thing?
Bryan Zuriff, the producer who launched the celebrity golf spectacle “The Match” in 2018, has floated a wildly specific new concept: staging a Backstreet Boys versus *NSYNC showdown on the golf course. Zuriff told TMZ Sports on Friday that after the Backstreet Boys publicly challenged Justin Timberlake and his former bandmates on TMZ earlier this week, he wants to make the boy band duel the next marquee “The Match” event, placing it at Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas with the Sphere theater — where Backstreet Boys are currently performing — looming in the background. The pitch is equal parts nostalgia and pageantry, intentionally designed to turn a friendly music feud into must-watch live TV.
Zuriff’s idea is already getting a tentative thumbs up from the Backstreet Boys. Nick Carter and Brian Littrell, speaking at Pebble Beach this week, expressed enthusiasm for the event. Carter even texted TMZ Sports saying, “Hell yeah. Let’s go. I’d love for that to happen.” Littrell also insisted he’s in solid golfing shape, claiming a single-digit handicap, while Timberlake is widely considered the most accomplished golfer among the *NSYNC camp. Zuriff’s vision plays on those very strengths: pit Timberlake’s known golfing chops against the Backstreet Boys’ eagerness and public challenge, and you’ve got a ratings-friendly storyline.
There are several reasons this idea could actually work. First, “The Match” has become a proven format blending sport, celebrity, and live betting-style energy, creating a natural home for a novelty matchup. Second, Luke-watching nostalgia sells — both bands peaked in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and fans span Millennials to Gen Z who stream old hits like cultural currency. Lastly, staging the event in Las Vegas with the Sphere in shot adds production value and a sense of spectacle that modern audiences crave. Zuriff’s pitch is thoughtful rather than gimmicky: he’s leveraging venue, timing, and star power to create an event that feels inevitable if the bands buy in.
That said, logistics remain unclear. TMZ notes there’s no official confirmation that *NSYNC will accept the challenge, and participation within each band is not confirmed beyond Carter and Littrell’s enthusiasm. There’s also the small matter of scheduling — Backstreet Boys are performing residency shows at the Sphere while individual *NSYNC members have separate projects, and aligning calendars for a high-profile golf event is never simple. Plus, contracts, sponsorships, broadcast rights, and prize structures would need to be negotiated to make the production financially viable.
If pulled off, the matchup could be more than a cheeky celebrity show; it could generate real cross-generational buzz and sizable viewership, combining competitive sports presentation with pop-culture rivalry. Zuriff’s public pitch read like a strategic invitation: pick a scenic Las Vegas course, frame the match against the Sphere’s neon glow, and sell the narrative of rival boy bands settling scores with clubs and putters instead of chart battles. TMZ’s reporting and Zuriff’s own comments are the primary sources confirming the concept’s existence.
So where does that leave us? A producer with a polished plan, two Backstreet Boys eager to tee off, and an industry used to turning nostalgia into live-event gold. Now we wait to see whether Justin Timberlake and the rest of *NSYNC will step up to the tee.
Okay cool, so like, yeah, that happened.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, TMZ Sports
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
