Super Bowl Opening Night draws thousands to San Jose
Super Bowl Opening Night draws thousands to San Jose
Carlos Nadal loves his Denver Broncos.
Nadal wore an orange Peyton Manning jersey, an orange beanie and had a blue Broncos flag draped on his back, like a cape.
The event attracted a spirited crowd of 7,000, even if fans merely watched Denver and Carolina players field questions from an estimated 2,000 media members.
Monday night’s festivities marked a fresh way for the NFL to launch its week of rampant excess.
The league used to call this Media Day and held it during the day on Tuesday of Super Bowl week, trotting out players from both teams in the stadium where the game would be played.
Spectators paid $15 for parking, more for tickets and were treated to players from both teams entering the arena on a replica Golden Gate Bridge (which curiously was painted gold).
Down below, on the arena floor, the media horde included one guy carrying skis, others dressed like superheroes and several alleged television journalists wearing garish Broncos garb.
If I pay my money, I’m going to see some action — guys running around and catching the ball or something.
“I’d pay to go to the combine,” Kalil said, referring to the NFL’s mass, predraft workouts.
More than anything, the fans enjoyed sharing the building with Super Bowl players past and present.