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Bay Area Earns FUN FACTOR TRANSPORTATION ACCOMMODATIONS FOOD FRIENDLINESS SUPER BOWL REPORT CARD

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By BAIRD HELGESON

bhelgeson@tampatrib.com

Published: February 3, 2009

TAMPA - Take a bow, Tampa. The week of Super Bowl XLIII went off without any notable hitches or black eyes for the community.

Visitors found us friendly and fun, with decent food and hotels. They were less thrilled with the traffic, though not enough to dull the good vibe.

Victorious Pittsburgh Steelers fans didn't set the city ablaze. The national media painted us as a tropical, mojito-sipping community with a naughty side. Nobody ripped away Bruce Springsteen's shirt to reveal a nipple during the halftime show.

"Tampa Bay showed again why it is such a great place to hold a Super Bowl," said Frank Supovitz, the NFL's senior vice president of events. "The participation of the entire community ensured that Super Bowl XLIII will be remembered fondly."
Mayor Pam Iorio said she was thrilled the see visitors fill restaurants, shops and attractions. "To have them filled during a recession makes it even more meaningful."

The "very good week" is a key reason the community is a contender to host the game again in 2014 or 2015, said Reid Sigmon, executive director of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee.

"The whole Tampa Bay community should be very proud," he said.

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