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Super Bowl Volunteers Get In Gear For Big Event

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By KEITH MORELLI

kmorelli@tampatrib.com

Published: January 16, 2009

TAMPA - Linda and Bob Phillips are no strangers to volunteer work.

They volunteered to help out the last time the Super Bowl visited Tampa, in 2001, and were in line Thursday morning to pick up their uniforms for this year's event.

Both will be stationed in the NFL Experience, the interactive zone on the south side of Raymond James Stadium, in the days before the NFL championship game on Feb. 1.

In a matter of minutes, Bob Phillips, 66, tells several stories about his experiences in 2001 and bubbles with enthusiasm over this year's work.

"We had a lot of fun," he said, recalling his stint eight years ago.

This year, the league needed about 6,400 volunteers, each outfitted with polo shirts and windbreakers and hats, said Jennifer St. John of Tampa, the director of volunteer services. She held the same post here in 2001.

Volunteers mostly come from Tampa, but some come from as far away as South Florida, she said.

"It's a lot bigger this time," she said.

Recruitment for volunteers began in April, and enough had signed up by September, she said. Since then, people have been turned away.

About half the volunteers will run the NFL Experience, overseeing the games and other interactive activities, along with the autograph lines. Some will be placed in local airports to greet arriving flights and help people get where they want to go. Others will be stationed in hotel lobbies to help tourists.

Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee spokeswoman Amanda Holt said that during the next three days, the committee will hand out about 3,000 uniforms and handbooks to volunteers. The rest of the gear will be distributed beginning next week.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

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