Pats Fans Head to Phoenix for Big Game
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Despite all of the hoopla surrounding “deflategate”, there are still many fans in the area heading west for the Super Bowl. GoLocalProv caught up with some of these super fans to find out what their plans for the big game were. We also spoke with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, who gave us the lowdown on what to do in the area before and after the big game.
Childhood friends David Reuter and David Shaw, originally from East Greenwich, will be making a very short trip of it. They’ll be in Phoenix for just 12 hours- landing at noon, tailgating, watching the game, and catching a red-eye back home. “It would be nice to stay longer,” said Reuter, “but I’ve got two young kids at home.”
Reuter and Shaw took advantage of frequent flyer miles to take care of the airfare, and since they’re flying in and out on Sunday, there was no need for a hotel room.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBiff Shea from Arlington MA, is taking a different approach. “I received a text on Tuesday from a dear friend from the Naval Academy, telling me that he bought tickets for his son, a young Navy Seal, and that he could not go to the game because of an early deployment.” Shea is planning on staying in Phoenix for 4 days. He’s got a room at the Hilton which ran a reasonable $205 a night, and his JetBlue flight from Boston ran $945.
It was a spur of the moment decision for Shea, who also attended Superbowl XXIX in Miami in 1995. “I could not pass up a chance to see the Patriots win and visit Phoenix again.”
While in the Phoenix area, Shea plans on checking out some of the official Superbowl activities. “I will definitely plan on a round of golf or 2, play some black jack at one of the Casinos and have a great steak at Durants!”
The food in the area is one of the things Mayor Greg Stanton is eager to show off. He tells GoLocalProv that Phoenix is “a great restaurant town- the local cuisine I think will really impress people.”
Stanton also recommends that visitors check out the official “Super Bowl Central” in downtown Phoenix. One million people are expected in Phoenix for the weekend. A 12 block area has been cordoned off and there will be free concerts, beer and wine gardens, street merchants, and more. “We’re putting together a heck of a party,” Mayor Stanton said. Stanton also insured us everything would be ready for the big weekend. “We’ve got a great, urban infrastructure here with easy access via light rail from the airport to the hotels and downtown. Phoenix is not a suburban sprawl city. People are going to be impressed.”
Staton told GoLocalProv that he doesn’t have a favorite in this particular matchup, telling us he’s a big Arizona Cardinals fan, but he’s ready to welcome all of the Patriots and Seahawks fans descending on his city. “We’re ready and willing to serve as ambassadors to the SuperBowl.”
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