DALLAS – I have been very fortunate to have attended 135 major sporting events in my career, which I am very thankful for.
That number includes 10 World Series, nine Final Fours, and eight NBA Finals, NHL Finals and now, after this past weekend, eight Super Bowls. I am a lucky guy and in no way shape or form do I not deeply appreciate everything that has been given to me in my career.
So for the most part I would glow about the Super Bowl XLV in Dallas, for the major reason that I love getting the opportunity to attend these great sports championships and see them in person. You can have all the high def TVs you want (and I have one), but nothing beats seeing a major event live if you get the chance.
Super Bowl XLV was really good. Cowboys Stadium is absolutely amazing, the scoreboard alone makes it a must see (the thing stretches from the 20 yard line to the 20 yard line, honest to God it’s incredibly large!), the Black Eyed Peas were terrific and the game was a darn good one with the Green Bay Packers edging the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25.
All good. And despite what you may hear from other media types, I don’t have any problems with the NFL’s ability to put on a big show. When you plan a party of this magnitude, you are going to have issues from time to time, that’s all there is to it.
I have never had an issue with the NFL’s accreditation, their transportation system, their communication of facts and stats, and pre and post-game press conferences. That’s the basics as far as I am concerned and if you can handle all of that ok, then you are ok with me.
My only issue with the entire Super Bowl experience revolves around the price gauging that goes on. It hit new levels here this weekend in Dallas.
Game tickets are up to $900 and that’s face value. $100 a room hotels charge $350. A $50 taxi ride costs $200 now (due to a taxi strike that effected almost half of the city’s cabs I am told). Regular parking spots around the stadium were $150. And of course, you have no choice to pay whatever they are asking – the golden rule of supply and demand is in effect at the Super Bowl.
I get it I suppose. The American economy is in the tank and something like this comes along, it’s party central for these guys. It’s the one time they can gauge so they do – but that doesn’t make it right.
I’m a believer in karma and what goes around comes around – maybe one of the reasons the American economy is in the tank is that it’s been fuelled by greed like this for decades and now it’s coming back to haunt them. Trust me, I won’t get in a taxi cab in Dallas again, thanks anyway.
But I digress. The point is if you get a chance to see one of these vents live grab it, especially if you are the consummate sports fan and especially if your team makes it to the title game. You only live once and your team may only get a chance once – it’s so damn hard to win any championship, isn’t it Toronto Maple Leafs fans?
Super Bowl XLV was a remarkable experience for me and a truly special event to cover. I had a great time, I am blessed to get to events like these, and I’m sure that the vast majority of people who got to be there feel the same way, even if they were paying fans and not media types like myself and the 5,000 others who were there. It truly is an amazing experience and a ton of fun, so go if you ever get a chance.
Just remember to bring your wallet.