TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
One Year Out: The Local Experience
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Published: February 3, 2008
If you're new to the area and wonder what Super Bowl week is like in Tampa, here's the short answer:
Depends on where you live and who you know.
If you never go south of Busch Boulevard, the whole week could pass without much notice. And if you don't know someone who knows someone who can get you into, say, the Maxim magazine party, you should probably forget it.
The Super Bowl is an event that, even for people in the host city, happens primarily on television and in the media.
Expect to hear stories about Super Bowl parties. Some of the parties held in 2001 included those hosted by Playboy, ESPN and Maxim. Sports "Super Agent" Leigh Steinberg threw a party at Busch Gardens. There was a Gridiron Glamour Fashion Show featuring celebrities. There was also a party with a video game version of the Super Bowl. A media party at the Florida Aquarium featured the rock band the B-52s.
But here's the deal: Unless you have an invite, you can't get in.
Fans can get into some events for a price. Back in 2001, the NFL Players Party cost $40 and allowed fans to mingle with football stars. But the big stars were huddled in an inaccessible area on the fourth floor at Cuban Club in Ybor City, and security didn't allow people in until 11 p.m. Many were not happy.
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