So 3/3 updates from my SB trip, game day:
So, this will probably be the most boring one.
Got up, went up to the top floor bar for breakfast. Delicious as per usual. The Pepsi pregame party didn't start until 10 AM and was taking over the house of blues event room inside Mandalay Bay. I was quite amazed how quickly they changed the signage for the event. If there is one thing Vegas does well, they can build and tear down a room/signs like nobodies business.
I had gotten a bit of a tip that Tom Brady was going to be there, so, I had to promise not to boo. Since I was given free tickets, trip, and food for the super bowl, I begrudgingly accepted these terms, despite Fitzy's assurance that I could boo him. The event was a mix of Pepsi pitches to the business folk there (marketing plans, etc) and 45 minute interview with TB12 on the stage. He tried to mix football and business lingo a bit, saying how he didn't want to disappoint his teammates just like you don't want to disappoint the people working for you or your business partners, so it was certainly catered to the audience a bit. He did mention he has enjoyed mentioning the new generation of QBs and mentioned that he spent some time with Josh Allen the last few weeks. Overall it was a pretty vanilla, boring, scripted interview. I was hoping there would be a photo op so I could try to talk him into doing a funny photo with me,, but he didn't come down to be with the masses.
There was a band that had some guy who was the lead singer of Journey for a few years in mid 2000s. They had a free bar and a few ex NFLers making the rounds. Larry Fitzgerald was probably the biggest name. Julien Edelman was probably the biggest dick, I mentioned I was a Bills fan he said "well we can't all be winners". Guy is much shorter than I even thought, maybe 5'9''-ish.
Soon, it was time to head to the game. We were able to walk right out and across the bridge. The masses were all moving, but really no more volume than a regular NFL game. The security line setup was fast and seamless. There was a bit of a bottleneck getting onto the bridge, but once at there we walked straight across with no lines, went through metal detectors and right to Allegiant stadium. The most annoying line was the wait to get any sort of the overpriced merch they sold. Lines for beer, soda, food, etc were all fast.
Finally we get in and walk to our seats. Mind blown. We were row 15, so I expected it to be further up than we were. but, we were in the corner where the 49ers came out, so those rows were cut out. So we were like 5 rows from the field.
This is the view from my section, row 11, so 4 rows back of that. We were surrounded by mostly niners fans, so that made the game fun for me. A few Chiefs fans were mixed in. The annoying fans were the 'too cool' for the super bowl business guys who spent most of the game on their phones. AT THE SUPER BOWL. Once guy who sat next to me had two iphones and showed up halfway through the 1st quarter, head on his phone the whole time. He looked up at halftime and was like 'Oh it's halftime already?'. His seat was empty the whole second half. I saw him post some braggy post on social media. A guy in front of me was like this, his wife was much more active and into the game than he was. They need to just sit these guys at a bar in the stadium and give their seats to actual fans.
But anyways, we were lucky that where are corner was ended up being the best seats in the house. Literally every big play happened right in front of us.
The throw back across to CMC? Right in front of us.
The muffed punt? Right in front of us.
The go ahead TD and blocked extra point? Right in front of us.
And finally the GW OT TD pass? Right in front of us.
Post game we decided to forgo watching the ceremony and head back to the hotel. Droves of SF fans followed. We got back up to the post game party at the hotel and grabbed dinner and hung out a bit. I think we were both exhausted because we didn't hang all that long. We went up to the Pepsi exec and thanked him for the tickets and the great time and I went to pack my bags for the trip home. They left a Joe Monanta signed mini helmet in my room, so another nice little souvenir for the trip home.
Overall, it was a once in a lifetime experience. I am getting together a thank you gift for my friend. I've spent the whole week revisiting some of the experiences I got to have, and I really was very lucky to get to experience them.
