SuperBowl Week Observations

[Branflakes]

I figured I'd use this thread to let people know the random things related to the SuperBowl I notice as I travel around the city this week. Who knows, these same things could happen to you, if the SuperBowl arrives in your city.

1. A Bud Light blimp flew near downtown on Sunday.

2. This morning while in traffic, noticed a shiny new Cadillac with the SuperBowl logo on its doors merging onto the freeway. I figure it's one of the official vehicles, seeing as it was very new and why else would there be a huge sticker on the side of such an expensive SUV?

3. Later, in a different part of town, noticed a PT Cruiser with a custom paint job stating it was with Fox News in Charlotte. Proof media from all over the country is in town, I guess.

4. The New England Patriots are practicing at Rice University's stadium this week (Not too far from where I work). The Carolina Panthers are practicing over at the Univeristy of Houston (where gf goes to law school).

5. Got into the NFL Experience for free on Saturday night. This is how that happened...So, members of my flag football team also play on the Houston Energy, which is one of the teams in the WPFL, one of the women's pro tackle football leagues. We'd heard there was going to be an exhibition game between women from the NWFA, another women's tackle league and wanted to see it. Plus, we were annoyed that our league didn't arrange for the Energy players to be a part of the exhibition.

So, my teammates all wore their football jerseys and warmup pants, and I had on a Houston Energy t-shirt. As we're walking up to the gates, one of the security guys asks if we're there to play in the exhibition. One of the girls yells at "Yeah!" and he points us to a special gate to go through. So, we were all allowed to walk right in!

We sat in the bleachers and watched the exhibition. It was interesting, just really wish our players could've been a part of it. It is all about marketing, let me tell you.

The best part of the evening was people stopping us for pictures and autograghs, people that knew about the Energy and people who were just curious. One of the local news channels even interviewed one of us. So, I'm in a bunch of photos, even though I don't officially play for the team (though I might tryout this year). I didn't sign any autographs, though. I thought that would be a bit too much.

I'll keep y'all posted as more noticeable things occur.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 26, 2004 06:11 PM: Message edited by: Branflakes ]</font>

[Neophobic Man]

How much do you think you could get to advertise on the side of your car this week...?

[Branflakes]

Since my car isn't running at the moment, probably not much. [img]wink.gif[/img]

As for my gf's car....she'd kill me.

Ok, so, it wasn't a Bud Light blimp I saw, it's the Saturn blimp, which has hovered between downtown and the U of H campus everyday this week.

Saw another news car from out of town. Channel 3, WBTV News. Don't know the city.

The radio stations are talking non-stop about all the celebrity parties that will be happening and how they have tickets to give away. It's getting annoying.

A lot more beer/football billboards are up. And, saw one today that simply said "AFC Champions" and showed the Patriots helmet. Don't know which freeway the NFC Champs billboard is on (I assume they get one, too).

[Dan the Goob]

WBTV's webpage seems to be down, but from the weather map, it looks like somewhere on the coast in North Carolina.

BTW, they are already working on some construction projects in downtown Detroit for the Superbowl in 2006!

[Branflakes]

Has Detroit ever hosted the game before? That will be cool.

So, I figured it out...there are multiple blimps out and about. Goodyear was out today.

The news has been reporting celebrity sightings throughout the city. Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez were spotted at the Galleria today. Aerosmith flew into town today to get ready for their pre-game show on Sunday.

Mind you, I don't expect to see any celebs because I plan on avoiding all those high traffic areas. Cool to know they're around, though.

[Firebird98]

mmmmm.. GO PANTHERS

[Dan the Goob]

They hosted it back in 1982. It was pretty much a PR disaster. The stadium then was the Pontiac Silverdome, out in the middle of nowhere 20-30 miles out from Detroit. The weather was lousy (hmmm, January in Michigan, go figure [img]graemlins/whatever.gif[/img] ) Detroit has never been a big "Night-life" sort of place, and with the Auto Industry in a tailspin, the early '80s were a pretty bleak time in the area.

Hopefully this one will go better. The new stadium is right at the edge of downtown, close to the theatre district, and not far from Greektown and other restaurants, and the Casinos. On the other hand, the weather will probably still be lousy. [img]wink.gif[/img]

[Firebird98]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 30, 2004 09:00 PM: Message edited by: Firebird98 ]</font>

[dwim]

I don't care who wins this one (my team is not that good enough... yet) but I like the underdogs so I'll be pulling for the Panthers in this one...

Bran, try to get as close to Aerosmith as you can. Oh and if by chance Britney Spears is there, tell her I'll marry her when she's ready. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]