Cats
02-07-2007, 11:03 AM
From the East Valley Tribune Feb. 7, 2007
SUPERHYPE BEGINS
State unveils Super Bowl mascot, logo and countdown clock
By DONNA HOGAN TRIBUNE
A stylized logo, a motto, a countdown clock, and a 7-foot-tall walking football.
The hype for Super Bowl XLII, scheduled for Feb. 3 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, was officially launched Tuesday. “The state of Arizona is now officially on the clock,” said Michael Kennedy, chairman of the Super Bowl XLII Host Committee.
In case there is any question about that, an 8-foot-by-3-foot clock is counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds till kickoff. And in case there is any question about who needs to know, the behemoth timekeeper will be stationed in Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the hub’s busiest people mover.
A whopping 175,000 out-of-towners are expected to descend on the Valley for the gridiron extravaganza, leaving more than $400 million behind when they take off for home. “Who wants it more?” said Host Committee CEO Debbie Wardrop. Wardrop wasn’t being sassy. That’s the new motto to accompany the new logo — a stylized version of the state of Arizona in forward motion, with parallel lines representing the barrel cactus-shaped stadium, red and blue stars for the two conferences, and a giant turquoise and red XLII reflecting Arizona’s hues.
But possibly the most surprising unveiling Tuesday was of Spike, the Super Ball, who will tour the state working up local excitement for the big game.
Spike, who sports sunglasses reflecting Arizona scenery, will visit Phoenix Children’s Hospital today and make his first community appearance Feb. 24 at Scottsdale’s Parada del ***, said Bob Sullivan, Host Committee president.
Then the big ball will roll all around Arizona, landing back in Glendale on game day, he said. The idea of the big mascot is to get statewide buy-in, Sullivan said. That’s despite the fact that few local folks will have access to tickets.
“(Spike) is a major player to help us all get involved, our team captain,” Sullivan said. In fact, while the game will be played in Glendale, wellheeled visitors are expected to stay in hotels, dine-in gourmet restaurants and shop throughout the Valley and the state.
Nearly 20,000 hotel rooms have been saved for a minimum four nights at the request of the National Football League, said Debbie Johnson, president of the Valley Hotel and Resort Association. The organization is now working on securing another 15,000 rooms for fans. Together they will fill up more than half the Valley’s available hotel rooms in the peak winter tourism season.
SUPERHYPE BEGINS
State unveils Super Bowl mascot, logo and countdown clock
By DONNA HOGAN TRIBUNE
A stylized logo, a motto, a countdown clock, and a 7-foot-tall walking football.
The hype for Super Bowl XLII, scheduled for Feb. 3 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, was officially launched Tuesday. “The state of Arizona is now officially on the clock,” said Michael Kennedy, chairman of the Super Bowl XLII Host Committee.
In case there is any question about that, an 8-foot-by-3-foot clock is counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds till kickoff. And in case there is any question about who needs to know, the behemoth timekeeper will be stationed in Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the hub’s busiest people mover.
A whopping 175,000 out-of-towners are expected to descend on the Valley for the gridiron extravaganza, leaving more than $400 million behind when they take off for home. “Who wants it more?” said Host Committee CEO Debbie Wardrop. Wardrop wasn’t being sassy. That’s the new motto to accompany the new logo — a stylized version of the state of Arizona in forward motion, with parallel lines representing the barrel cactus-shaped stadium, red and blue stars for the two conferences, and a giant turquoise and red XLII reflecting Arizona’s hues.
But possibly the most surprising unveiling Tuesday was of Spike, the Super Ball, who will tour the state working up local excitement for the big game.
Spike, who sports sunglasses reflecting Arizona scenery, will visit Phoenix Children’s Hospital today and make his first community appearance Feb. 24 at Scottsdale’s Parada del ***, said Bob Sullivan, Host Committee president.
Then the big ball will roll all around Arizona, landing back in Glendale on game day, he said. The idea of the big mascot is to get statewide buy-in, Sullivan said. That’s despite the fact that few local folks will have access to tickets.
“(Spike) is a major player to help us all get involved, our team captain,” Sullivan said. In fact, while the game will be played in Glendale, wellheeled visitors are expected to stay in hotels, dine-in gourmet restaurants and shop throughout the Valley and the state.
Nearly 20,000 hotel rooms have been saved for a minimum four nights at the request of the National Football League, said Debbie Johnson, president of the Valley Hotel and Resort Association. The organization is now working on securing another 15,000 rooms for fans. Together they will fill up more than half the Valley’s available hotel rooms in the peak winter tourism season.