South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
SUPER BOWL HYPE
Day 1 of event features, games, player autographs and more
The first in a wave of Super Bowl 2020 festivities set to roll across South Florida in the next week opened Saturday at the Miami Beach Convention Center, filled with team-colored fans young and old eager to soak up the energy of the NFL’s signature event. Such was the positive vibe of the afternoon at Super Bowl Experience — a whirl of interactive games, player autograph sessions, jersey shopping and killer Instagram moments — that it encouraged a truce for the Martinez family, half in Kansas City Chiefs colors and half wearing the garb of the San Francisco 49ers. The Chiefs and 49ers play for all the marbles in Super Bowl 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Feb. 2.
Fernando Martinez and son Logan, 8, of Parkland, both wore the jersey of Logan’s favorite player, Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Martinez has been a fan of the team since he was his son’s age. The Super Bowl Experience allowed him to share in the team’s success with his son, he said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that the team made it to the Super Bowl [in Miami]. So I wanted to bring him. But we also have an added feature, my father, his grandfather, is a Kansas City Chiefs fan. So it’s even more unique that both teams are playing each other,” Martinez said.
Martinez became a Niners fan because they were the popular team on TV when he was growing up. It was the same story for his father, Fernando Sr., who grew up with broadcasts of Kansas City stars Len Dawson and Otis Taylor. Senior blames himself — and Joe Montana, star QB for the 49ers, and later the Chiefs.
“I created that monster,” said Senior, wearing Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ jersey. “When he was [Logan’s age], I had some Montana stuff around and it stuck. That was a mistake!”
The Super Bowl Experience, which continues Sunday and from Wednesday through Feb. 1, is a good way to get in on the Super Bowl vibe for a fraction of the cost ($20) of tickets for the game. Here are some observations about opening day:
The crowd: Thousands of fans — mostly parents and kids — attended, but there was plenty of elbow room in the convention center. Organizers expect the crowds to swell later in the week, beginning on Wednesday. Team jerseys and T-shirts were the norm, with plenty of Dan Marino 13s in the house. At one skills area, an announcer acknowledged a group in Tom Brady jerseys: “I love the Pats fans — they think they’re supposed to be here [at the Super Bowl].” Most obscure jersey seen on Saturday: Joe Namath as a Los Angeles Ram.
Football activities: There is a long menu of interactive football
activities and skills challenges, including a four-lane, 40-yard turf track. It ends in a padded area where kids and adults were attempting their own Lambeau Leap. The large Play Football Field was home to a variety of drills Saturday led by Miami Dolphins’ linebacker Jerome Baker. It’s free for ages 4 to 14, and kids keep the souvenir shirt. To get on the field, you’ll need to download the NFL OnePass app at NFL.com/OnePass/ SBLIV.
Autographs: There is a dedicated autograph stage and the wait was minimal Saturday afternoon for former NFL star and ex-Miami Hurricanes standout Antrel Rolle, who took time to chat with each autograph seeker. Among those signing Sunday are Canes legend Ed Reed (noon-1 p.m.) and Dolphins’ Hall of Famer Dwight Stephenson (3-4 p.m.).
Food and drink: There are at least nine food stations lined against one wall, serving everything from a prime rib sandwich ($15) to sushi and a selection of plantbased items at Vedge. Anecdotally, while many booths had customers 10 deep, Vedge had little to no wait for food. At the far end, Salty Donut is serving coffee ($4 for a small cup) and their trademark, large doughnuts ($4 each). Beer ($9) leaned toward Budweiser products, along with Veza Sur and Stella Artois. Wine is by Babe ($9 a can) and cocktails are limited to Miami Mule or a mojito ($12). No one will look askance if you walk around with an adult beverage.
Fan Gallery: Located on the second floor, the Fan Gallery is where all your favorite sports talkers from ESPN, Fox, NBC, CBS and SiriusXM will be on the air on stages set up around the room. Fans can walk a circuit, like a race track with stages in the infield, as broadcasts go on. Heckle at your peril. There’s also the Old Spice booth, which has a rooftop lounge that should offer a great view of the action. It’s rumored to be hosting Isaiah Mustafa, the former NFL (practice squad) receiver better known for his appearances on Old Spice commercials. You’ll also find the Twitter booth, distinguished by its cozy, faux-brick design. Because the internet did not kill the brick-and-mortar concept, and social media did not end “social” as we knew it.
Dance party: Super Bowl Experience is a family event, but not everyone in the family likes football. So there’s also the TikTok Tailgate. Beginning Sunday, there will be a lighted, 8-foot-square cube where you can film your own TikTok dance video — the best will be shown on a big scoreboard overhead. Staff will be on hand to shoot the videos (on your phone) and help kids (and parents) edit their videos and add sound and other features. At the very least, stop at the TikTok Tailgate to sit in one of the folding chairs scattered about, each with a charging cable for your phone.
Quiet moments: There is an impressive booth from Rise to Win, a program that uses sports as a launching pad for efforts to improve race relations in the country, co-chaired by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross. In a small, darkened room, you’ll find lockerroom displays and a small touch screen with attached headphones that play videos of NFL stars recounting their experiences looking across the racial divide. Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillan describes being told as a child in Georgia “not to talk to people and not look them in the eye.” It’s hard to listen to. Visit RiseToWin.org.
NFL shopping: The official NFL Shop has everything you could want in terms of Super Bowl 2020 mementos, as well as gear from the 49ers, Chiefs and other NFL teams. The Mitchell & Ness corner has an array of throwback jerseys ($150), from Dan Marino to Bo Jackson, and limited-edition NFL Platinum jerseys ($199.99). The memorabilia dealer Hunt Auctions displays items from today — with a signed Patrick Mahomes helmet for $625 and a signed Garoppolo jersey for $425 — and yesterday, including a picture with a signature of American sports icon Jim Thorpe.
Getting there: If you are coming in from the north, remember that the express lane on I-95 South does not have an exit for Interstate 195 east toward Miami Beach and Alton Road north of the convention center, so leave the express lane earlier. Otherwise, the exit to Interstate 395 will take you to the south end of Miami Beach for the drive back north on Alton Road, which may or may not drive you insane.
The Super Bowl Experience is at the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr., through Feb. 1. Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday, 3-10 p.m. Thursday, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Information: 866-849-4635, NFL.com/ Super Bowl Experience.