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Story by Alan Snel Photos by Jeff Goulding
PHOENIX, Arizona — The Super Bowl is a massive event with dozens of moving parts and various venues to coordinate. Inevitably, there will be technical and human glitches.
The NFL informed media about a Tuesday event to check Super Bowl 57’s stadium and food. Dozens of media submitted electronic forms to confirm checking out State Farm Stadium and the big game’s food offerings. When they showed up at the stadium in Glendale outside Phoenix this morning to electronically use their NFL-supplied credential badges to gain entry, the response was the same for every media member.
Access denied. Access denied. Access denied.
Security workers offered no info except to say, “You were denied. Step aside.”
A line of media lengthened outside the stadium in the morning. Eventually, an NFL representative showed up and personally checked in each media person via his own laptop.
The security people at the stadium offered no explanation except to say a phone call was made.
There will be glitches and electronic screw-ups at big events. LVSportsBiz.com understands that. Our suggestion: Acknowledge and apologize for the screw-up, explain they are working on it and tell folks you appreciate their understanding.
Another issue is the thousands of volunteers and security who are clueless about where Super Bowl event happenings are located or when they are happening.
For example, a guard standing in front of an NFL Experience gate next to the Media Center in Phoenix had no idea when the NFL Experience is happening. Sure, you can look it up yourself. But you’re also a visitor just looking for help from folks who look as if they’re on hand to help.
Las Vegas has much to learn from Super Bowl 57 here in metro Phoenix to prep for Super Bowl 58 in Sin City next year.
LVSportsBiz.com checked with in Sam Joffray, CEO/President of the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee who is here with 40 folks this week and manning a big Las Vegas display booth outside Super Bowl’s Radio Row at the convention center in downtown Phoenix.
While LVSportsBiz.com interviewed Joffray, Las Vegas entertainer Carrot Top (Scott Thompson) stopped by the host committee display to videotape a social media PSA about Las Vegas.
Joffray said Las Vegas is looking to recruit 9,000 volunteers starting in April; then manage and train them in September and the fall; and ultimately throw a thank you party in March 2024 after the Super Bowl in Feb. 2024.
Joffray pledged that the Las Vegas big game volunteers will be schooled on properly helping people, directing them to events and answering their questions. This is no inexpensive undertaking. Las Vegas’ tourism agency, the LVCVA, has approved $40 million in public dollars to help stage Super Bowl 58 in 2024 and the host committee is charged with raising another $20 million.
“In Las Vegas, you understand front of house hospitality,” Joffray told LVSportsBiz.com Tuesday afternoon. “We know how to take care of people. Our volunteers will be well trained on front of house hospitality.”
Joffray plans to hire a volunteer chief in April.