Superbowl XLII

by Jared King

The wait is almost over. The NFL stars are lining up. But unlike 90 million home-viewers, tailgaters will be traveling from all over the country to set Arizona to blaze. Or at least their grills.

Year after year, Sunday after countless Sunday, anxious fans gather armed with grills, coolers, radios, portable TV sets, and the occasional foam finger. These super fans are poised for the sounds, smells, and tastes of the ultimate football experience. This rare breed of sports fan is who we choose to highlight with our magazine. These fans are the Tailgaters.

The Mecca of tailgating, the Mecca of professional sport for that matter, is the Super Bowl. Held this February at the University of Phoenix Stadium, more than 75 thousand fans will view the game from within the retractable domed complex. The game will no doubt be exciting; teams, players and coaches will be immortalized as the new World Champions of football are crowned. Lives will be changed, goals and dreams attained, and that is just within the lines on the football field.

A story that is seldom told, but written in the minds of millions does not take place inside that complex. It is the story of the thousands outside of the complex who for whatever reason, didn’t get a ticket but chose to take that Sunday to spend time with friends and celebrate the pageantry and the spectacle of the event. Add to that the millions across the country in bars, back yards and living rooms that are glued to their TV sets and you have simply the greatest Championship game of the year.

If you close your eyes, you can probably already hear the sounds of the day. The first thing you notice is the low murmur of conversation, laughing and the occasional high five followed later in the day by loud bursts of sideline cheers as the excitement of kickoff nears. Try harder and you can see through your mind’s eye the sights that will surely accompany such an event. Through a haze of barbecue grill smoke you wind your way through a maze of tents, RVs and campers. Careful not to step in front of the team clad golf carts making the tour of the grounds, you see friends reuniting and families sharing a time honored tradition. By late afternoon all sorts of sights are to behold. From Super fans with faces painted to the fan whose excitement (mixed with about three too many drinks of his choice) has sentenced him to a pre-game nap in a folding chair, always within earshot of the sportscast over the radio.

Sitting here, recalling sights and sounds from tailgate seasons past, the memories seem in endless supply, but one can’t forget the other ingredients to the ultimate tailgating experience, smell and taste. Definitely fan favorites, the array of food one finds while gathered around grills and fryers is unlike any you are to receive from any so-called five-star restaurants and the food inside such events, well it simply doesn’t compare to that of the grill masters of each individual campsite. It seems as if every site has its own special recipe whether it is steaks, burgers, dogs, brats, soups, or fried...anything. Yes, between the laughs, the foods and the spirit of brotherhood, there is no doubt that great memories are sure to come.

Phoenix looks to be an excellent venue for tailgaters and game-goers alike. The weather alone is enough to bring people out in droves. Let’s not forget that Phoenix boasts over 325 sunny days with an average temperature ranging between 60 and 75 degrees. Bob Sullivan, president of the Super Bowl XLII Host Committee says that the city of Phoenix and the NFL are working together to provide an event that everyone will remember. Their hope is that everyone in attendance will have “the overall experience - from the time they land, to the time they leave us - top drawer,� Sullivan said. “You know, (hopefully), the weather was great, the amenities were awesome.� And on the planning of the event he hopes guests feel, “it was one of the smoothest Super Bowls ever. The customer service at the hotels, resorts, and transportation was exceptional! Everything was beyond expectation.� Sullivan also states that there will be great accommodations in the Valley area. “They have secured 19 thousand rooms for the NFL for four days of Super Bowl week. The Metro Valley has over 55 thousand.�

As far as the football game is concerned, we have no idea whether or not it will be considered one of the greatest games in NFL history. One thing we can be sure of is that for the people who gather, in an attempt to have a great time, will. That is the great thing about tailgating — it doesn’t matter if your team wins the game. For the most part, the feeling of a sporting victory is temporary at best. The memories made while standing around a grill, or weaving from site to site taking in all the wonders to behold are the kind that last. Whether you are a regular to tailgating or just a novice who has never attended such an event, Phoenix and the Super Bowl will prove excellent and the memories of the experience long lasting.