Back in 2014, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Seahawks, one of my favorite teams in the NFL, faced the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
That year, the NFL tried something new: It chose to play the Super Bowl in the cold, in an open-air stadium, in the Meadowlands of New Jersey.
Given the prospect of snow, and the fact that the teams representing the NFC and AFC traveled from the West, tickets were a fraction of what they normally might cost.
So I splurged on two tickets in the “nosebleed” section. One was for me; the other for my brother.
Not only did I get to savor one of the more lopsided Super Bowls (the Seahawks won, 43-8), but I witnessed firsthand the NFL production that is the Super Bowl.
That big show comes to Atlanta this week, culminating with next Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots.
Of course, a game as special as the Super Bowl deserves special coverage. Which is why, over the last few months, we’ve been putting together ambitious plans to capture the excitement and reflect the tedious preparations and mind-bending logistics that come with hosting a Super Bowl.
Our bonus coverage kicks off in earnest today with a 48-page special section inside today’s newspaper. We’re billing it as the ultimate guide to the biggest game, and there’s truly something for everyone – whether you’re visiting our city or call Metro Atlanta home.
The section will revisit that day in May 2016 when Atlanta learned it had landed the Super Bowl. The gleaming new stadium, with its retractable roof, helped sway the decision, for sure. You’ll hear from former players and coaches, such as Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Dick Vermeil and Jeff Fisher, who share their memories of playing here for the Lombardi trophy, back in 1994 and 2000, when the Dome was still standing.
The section includes a comprehensive guide to all the events throughout the week. If you’re visiting Atlanta, we’ll provide helpful tips for navigating our city so that you can make the most of your time here. (Hint: Yes, traffic really is that bad, and we have a lot of streets named “Peachtree.”)
Beginning Monday, we’re introducing a special eight-page Super Bowl section that will appear throughout the week.
Each day, Mike Luckovich, our Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, will offer his unique perspective. We’ll examine seven iconic images that defined past Super Bowls. (Remember that photo of Len Dawson, smoking a cigarette with a bottle of Fresca at his feet during Super Bowl I? Or David Tyree’s helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII?) We’ll also provide exclusive access to some of the biggest parties and celebrity events.
Throughout the week, we’ll share updates, both on AJC.com and in our printed newspaper, on ticket prices, the weather forecast (we all know what happened last time Atlanta hosted a Super Bowl) and road closings that could disrupt your commute.
Credit: Bob Andres
Credit: Bob Andres
On Super Bowl Sunday, you’ll find one of our biggest Sports sections of the year. (I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but let’s just say we’re planning a memorable cover that you’ll want to keep – and maybe even frame.)
Inside the stadium, we have 18 journalists covering the event. They include our sports columnists, Mark Bradley and Michael Cunningham; D. Orlando Ledbetter, our Falcons writer; and a group of talented reporters and photographers to capture every angle.
After the game, we’ll be distributing free commemorative newspapers outside the stadium to celebrate the NFL’s newest champs. On Monday, if you’re heading to the airport, you’ll find another special front page that will be on sale exclusively at select stores at Hartsfield-Jackson.
To ensure we leave no stone unturned, we’ll be working closely with Channel 2 Action News and News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB.
Channel 2 Action News has multiple cameras set up around town with an exclusive live streaming camera from the heart of SkyView Atlanta, the downtown Ferris wheel. Their week-long special coverage kicks off on Sunday night with a Super Bowl show beginning at 7 p.m.
Our radio partners at News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB will cover every angle of the Super Bowl – from the ground and in the air. All week long, they’ll be broadcasting from “Radio Row” at the World Congress Center and will have expanded traffic updates from the WSB Skycopter.
At the newspaper, we’ve stretched deadlines, added pages and put plans in place to ensure that our most memorable papers get into the hands of our most important constituents – you, our readers.
Without a doubt, hosting the Super Bowl is serious business. That’s why we’ve been digging deep to bring you harder-hitting stories.
We’ve scrutinized whether MARTA is really prepared to handle the demands. We’ve looked at what impact the government shutdown could have on the world’s busiest airport. (More than 100,000 passengers are expected to pass through security in one single record-setting day.) And we’ve examined efforts by the city to crack down on sex trafficking – a crime that could surge when plenty of free-spending travelers come to town.
Today, as part of that deeper coverage, we’ll look at how much money the Super Bowl really adds to the local economy.
Looking back on that Super Bowl in New Jersey, I continue to savor the memories of attending such an event.
I still laugh at the image of Bruno Mars, led by flashlight to a stage on the field right before the halftime show began. (Someone seated in our row captured the moment perfectly by letting out a big, “aaaaawkwaaard.”) I can still hear the rumble of military helicopters that hovered over the stadium as Renee Fleming finished her rendition of the national anthem. And I can’t believe I was there when Pete Carroll and the late Seahawks owner, Paul Allen, hoisted the Lombardi trophy for the first time in the team’s history.
If you’re fortunate enough to attend this year’s Super Bowl, or even take part in many of the activities happening around town all week, make the most of those opportunities.
Trust me, they don’t come around often. And you won’t regret it.
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