Super Dogs Prepare For Game Day

Tampa Bay area police dogs (and their humans) are beginning their Super Bowl training. According to the Tampa police department, the dogs, mostly laborador retrievers, will check vehicles for explosives and do stadium sweeps for dangerous substances. The retrievers are specially trained to detect illegal and dangerous things. (German shepherds are usually trained to apprehend suspects).

Yacht Bowl Scrapped

"Super Yacht Bowl," a 4 day yacht hop and cocktail party was scheduled from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 at Vinoy Marina, St. Petersburg Municipal Marina and Port St. Pete. The number of yachts needed did not sign up.Organizers were looking to have about 30 yachts to rent slips at local marinas by the end of September but only had 6 by mid October. Event organizer site the economy as the main reason for the low interest. It didn’t help that last month, the NFL abruptly cancelled its huge Saturday Night Spectacular, which crowds and sponors were counting on, planned for Vinoy Waterfront Park the night before the game. Some yacht owners will still dock in Tampa Bay for the big game, regardless of the organized party.

Super Bowl Is A Good Neighbor

Rebuilding Together is a nonprofit group that follows Super Bowl as the big game moves from city to city. The group rehabilitates old homes around football stadiums that host the NFL's biggest event, and they have started scouting out homes in the West Tampa Area. Projects include foundations and plumbing, and clean up. The last time Tampa played host to the Super Bowl, volunteers helped fix up three homes. This year, they plan to repair 15. For more information about the project, or to apply, call Rebuilding Together at (813) 878-9000 or go to www.rttb.org

Game Day Information

Site: Raymond James Stadium - Tampa, Florida Date: February 1, 2009 Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST Stadium Capacity: 72,500 Television: NBC Radio: CBS Radio/Westwood One (English and Spanish)

Super Bowl Ticket Prices Annnounced

The NFL has announced that tickets will cost $800 and $1,000 for Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium. Last year’s ticket prices were $700 and $900.

NFL Commissioner In Town

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell was in town for a luncheon to provide an update on the status of Super Bowl planning. He spoke to Tampa business leaders and elected officials. He said he expects the 2009 Super Bowl should provide a much-needed economic boost for the region. The NFL expects 100,000 people to visit during the Super Bowl, shop at local stores and eat in local restaurants.

Super Bowl Tickets Free For Students

For the winner of the NFL Super Kid Contest, that is. 3 free Super Bowl tickets will be avialable to a lucky student who must pledge to be active for 60 minutes every day and answer 2 questions about the importance of health and fitness. The winner will also get to hand off the ball before the game's opening kick-off in Tampa on Feb. 1st , and appear on boxes of Frosted Flakes. Students ages 6 to 15 can enter the contest at www.NFLrush.com.

ESPN Party To Be Held On Vacant Lot

ESPN the Magazine is known for unusual locations for it's parites, and Super Bowl 43 is no different. Thier VIP party will take place Friday at a parking lot in downtown Tampa at the corner of Jefferson and E Whiting. It will be an exclusive VIP party event with a red carpet and tent party, with minimal public admission.

Super Bowl Saturday Night Cancelled

Earlier this year, the NFL announced plans for a free “Super Bowl Saturday Night” the night before the big game at Vinoy Park in St. Pete. It was to be the 2nd annual such event; last year’s in Arizona featured fireworks, performances by Counting Crows, and more than 30,000 people showed up. Now it appears the party is off. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league has decided to focus its attention elsewhere. The NFL will still hold the NFL Experience during the week leading up to the game, and the Pepsi Smash Concert Series at the Ford Amphitheatre on January 28th and 29th.

Super Bowl Half Time Show Set

The NFL has announced that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band would perform at halftime of Super Bowl XLIII and you can join Bruce and company on the field. Producers are looking for about 600 "roadies" to help run the stages onto the field and perform various duties during the pregame show and in the hectic minutes leading up to Bruce's performance. Volunteers must be at least 18, and you can volunteer for the pregame show or the halftime show, but not both. You won't get a ticket to the game but the NFL will post an announcement looking for "fans" to run on the field during the show in the coming weeks. Applications are available at www. superbowlproductions.com.