Lingerie Bowl Cancelled

The Lingerie Bowl has been officially canceled as a result of a conflict over where nudity would be allowed during the event. The Lingerie Football League requested that people stay dressed in certain areas of the resort - something the clothing-optional Caliente Spa and Resort would not agree to. Organizers originally wanted to hold a 2 day bowl in Tampa, with the final game on a pay-per-view channel during halftime of the Super Bowl. However, complaints from neighborhood associations caused the owner of the property where the event would be held to withdraw, moving the event to the Caliente resort in Land o Lakes. Last year the Lingerie Bowl was cancelled after organizers failed to get special-use permits from Scottsdale, Arizona, in time.

Bruce Springsteen In Tampa For Super Bowl Halftime Show

Bruce Springsteen is in Tampa to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday. He gave his first press conference since 1987 today at the Tampa Convention Center with members of the E Street Band. The last time he performed in Tampa was in 1975.

Super Bowl Rentals - Condos To Campsites

The good news is, there is no shortage of Super Bowl rentals. The bad news- it's going to cost you. One website has over 150 rentals available, priced from $7,000 to $10,000 for a five-night stay. A Tampa penthouse, 4 tickets to the game, reservations at Bern's Steakhouse and a foursome at Avila Country Club, are a $25,000 package. Hundreds of other homes are being offered by real estate brokers and homeowners at significantly lower prices, $2,000 - $5000. Many owners don't feel it's worth moving out of their home temporarily for anything less. Hotel rooms are still available but expect to pay the rack rate and book for at least 3 nights. Hotel demand appears to be growing since the teams were determined last weekend. Camp sites are available in the $30-$45-a-night range, but you better hurry, they're filling up fast. There are also "special accommodations", like an apartment on The World, a 644-foot, 12-deck ship that will dock at Tampa's Cruise Terminal for the game. The World will book available apartments for a minimum three-night stay Jan. 30 through Feb. 3 for the Super Bowl starting at $1900 per night. And last but not least, the "no hotel needed" option offered by USA3000. For $578 you get round-trip airfare on a flight that leaves Pittsburgh at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 1 and departs Tampa after the game.

Super Bowl Tickets And Flights Still Plentiful

According the a New York Post article, a slow economy and two Super Bowl teams from Phoenix and Pittsburgh - are two contributing factors . In any other year it would be very difficult to find available tickets in the current price range, especially this close to the big game. StubHub.com there are plenty of seats available. Upper level seats at Raymond James Stadium range from $1,500 to $1,895, and those prices may drop in the days leading up to the game. The current average price of $2,593 is the least expensive in several years, and there are plenty of flights still available with fares as low as $287 round-trip from the New York area.

It's Official - Arizona VS Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers will meet the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in 2 weeks. If the Steelers win, they will be the first team in history to win six Super Bowl titles.

Roads Closures and Tighter Security

When the Super Bowl returns to Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, security will be a lot tighter than it was in 2001. Tampa Bay Blvd has already been closed. Dale Mabry Highway and Himes Ave, the two main north-south thoroughfares on either side of Ray-Jay, will close after midnight on February 1st. A chain link fence is being put up around the stadium and parking lots, from MLK Blvd to Columbus Ave. Dale Mabry and Himes between Columbus and MLK will be closed, but Columbus and MLK will stay open. No RVs or buses will be allowed inside the parking lots. No drop-offs will be allowed near the stadium, the closest drop-off is a parking lot across from Hillsborough Community College on the west side of Dale Mabry. Shuttle service will only be available for fans with disabilities. There will be pat-downs and searches of purses and bags at the gates and officers will use metal detectors and xray machines to screen fans. Nothing larger than 12-by-12 inches is allowed in the staduium. Also, fans are expected to behave. The NFL says excessive drinking ,boorish behavior, disorderly conduct, standing on chairs, running, fighting or profanity will not be tolerated. In the parking lot, the league has banned all open flames, meaning no grills. You'll have to cook your brats on an electric cooker.

Lingerie Bowl Set, But For Nudist Resort Instead Of Tampa

Promoters originally planned to hold the "Lingerie Bowl" on the weekend of Super Bowl Sunday in a vacant lot in Tampa, but the city of Tampa frowned upon it. The event will be held instead at Caliente Spa and Resort, nudist resort in Land O Lakes, in neighboring Pasco County. The resort is offering free round trip shuttle service from Channelside.

Put Your Game Face On Tampa Bay

The Super Bowl Host Committee wants everyone in Tampa Bay wear a smile Super Bowl week and give our visitors a warm Tampa Bay welcome. A positive experience for guests in January will keep them coming back to the region for future tourism, business and special events. If you would like buttons, posters and point-of purchase displays for your employees, restaurant or storefront? Stop by any of these locations to pick up Super Bowl promotional materials:

• Clearwater Chamber of Commerce 1130 Cleveland St
• Greater Tampa Area Chamber of Commerce 615 Channelside Dr
• Tampa Bay and Company 401 E. Jackson St
• Ybor City Visitor Information Center 1600 E. 8th AvenueSuite 104B
• St. Pete Beach Welcome Center 6990 Gulf Blvd
• Madeira Beach Welcome Center 12902 Village Boulevard
• St. Pete Downtown Partnership 244 2nd Avenue N.Suite 201
• St. Pete Chamber of Commerce 100 2nd Avenue N.Suite 150
• Visit St. Pete/Clearwater 13805 58th Street N.Suite 2-200 Clearwater

Pack Light On Game Day - Banned Items At Super Bowl

The Super Bowl Host Committee has provided a list of items prohibited from Raymond James Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday. In addition to weapons, knives and explosives, here's what is banned: •Pepper spray or Mace •Fireworks •Animals, except service animals •Camcorders, camera lenses that exceed 10" and camera and binocular cases •Containers, including aerosol cans and bottles •Coolers, food and beverages •Inflatable items, such as beach balls •Items that obstruct views •Laptops •Large bags, including backpacks, duffel and grocery bags and luggage •Laser lights and pointers •Noisemakers, horns and banners •Poles, sticks and projectiles •Seat cushions •Skates, skateboards and all cycles •Strollers, tripods and umbrellas

Westin Hotel Will Open For Super Bowl

The Westin Tampa Bay Airport Hotel will open Jan. 22 in time for Super Bowl XLIII and two months ahead of schedule. The 16 story hotel will have 255 rooms and a 5 level parking garage. Impact Properties, owner of the hotel, expects to host a grand opening in April. The Westin Tampa Bay Airport Hotel is located at Rocky Point on the Courtney Campbell Causeway. It will feature the Aquaknox restaurant, the rooftop bar Blu Vu and a Starbucks.

Jennifer Hudson Will Sing Anthem At Super Bowl

Hudson will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, according to E! News. This will be Hudson's first public appearance since her mother, brother, were slain in Chicago in October.

Kevin Costner Hosting Tampa Super Bowl Party

Kevin Costner and Michael Strahan will host this year’s Saturday Night Spectacular on Jan. 31 at the Pepin Hospitality Centre. Performers will include Circue USA; Starship Supergroup, and Costner and his band Modern West. The event will benefit a charity named for Matthew Tryson Bryant, Bucs kicker Matt Bryant’s infant son who died suddenly in September. Costner's no stranger toTampa Bay. He’s a regular at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in Lutz, and his band Modern West composed a jingle for the Tampa Bay Rays. Tickets to the party are $875. For more info, visit saturdaynightspectacular.com.

Puppy Bowl 2009

Nearly 40 puppies are bound to score some touchdowns on the Animal Planet's "Puppy Bowl," before the big game. The 2-hour show will feature 10-12 puppies at a time frolicking -- and sometimes fighting -- on a mini football field.
It's the fifth season Animal Planet has produced the show, which will air Super Bowl Sunday at 3 p.m.

The pups are all  from shelters and traveled to the show's October filming in Silver Springs, Md. As of this Sunday, all of the puppies will be living in their adoptive homes. Some were adopted before the filming even began. Animal Planet kept veterinarians, dog handlers and representatives from the Humane Society of the United States on the set.

Not to be upstaged by their canine competitors, a group of kitties -- all shelter animals, as well -- will make an appearance during this year's half-time show.

The show, which garnered 8 million viewers last year, will run continuously from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Sunday.


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Volunteers Needed For Super Bowl Half Time Show

Producers of the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show are offering area residents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in Super Bowl XLIII which will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Sunday, February 1, 2009. Around 2,000 excited fans are needed to be part of the audience that will be on the field during the halftime show featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.No prior experience is required, but volunteers must attend all rehearsals, be over the age of 16, and register as part of a group that contains at least 10 members. Interested volunteers may log on to www.superbowlcast.com for more information and to register and view the rehearsal schedule.Volunteers will get to be on the field as part of the biggest concert of the year. Watched by more than 148 million viewers in the U.S. last year, the Super Bowl is annually the nation’s highest-rated TV program. The game will be broadcast worldwide in more than 230 countries and territories.Volunteers will not receive tickets to the game, but will be an integral part of the show. For all the details, visit www.superbowlcast.com

NFL Tree Planting In Dunedin

Dunedin has been selected by the NFL to participate in their effort to get rid of green house gases and carbon emissions caused by 2009 Super Bowl events and activities in the Tampa Bay area. Dunedin will plant over 75 trees along the Pinellas Trail at Weaver Park on Saturday January 18th at 10 am. You can adopt a tree and participate by calling Julie Easterday "Tree Lady of Dunedin" at 727-734-2058.