Super Bowl Sunday

I know I'll be retelling my tales over and over again for the next month, but here are some highlights of my Super Bowl XLVI experience. I had a great time and have no regrets. The weather was great and the people weren't all that bad. I hate to admit it, but there were way more Giants fans in the crowd and boy, NY has some fine boys who are into football, but I didn't talk to too many of them, I felt guilty for socializing with them. Despite the outcome of the game, this was a major life experience and one that I can cross off my bucket list. Not everyone gets to say they've gone to a Super Bowl. I'm still a fan and still love Brady. I moved to Boston b/c of him and have him to thank for this 30 hour adventure I had in Indy. What a weekend!



Sunday morning I got up around 9 and visited some more with my old colleague and her kids. We headed into downtown Indy around 11ish. It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be and the weather was gorgeous. It was a bit cold in the shade, but wearing a long-sleeved top and my fleece was just enough to keep me warm. I was dropped off as close to the festivities as we could get.

Before leaving Boston, someone from a meetup group I've belonged to but have never been to an event, posted that they were going to Indy. I had messaged him to let him know I was going and ended up meeting up with him and 3 others who drove with him from Boston. It was kind of nice meeting up with people from Boston to experience the Super Bowl festivities with.

After meeting up with the group, which was surprising easy since they were where the Roman letters were, we went to the Huddle so I could pick up my ticket. They didn't have tickets to the game, but were able to check prices and see what was still available. Sadly for me, the ticket prices did drop significantly the closer it got to the game. One guy bought a ticket in the field level, 4 hours before the game for 50% less than what I paid for my level 4, obstructed view seat.




We walked around the Super Bowl Village, this ice sculpture was right outside the Huddle. They also had stages with performers, a beer lounge, corn hole and other tailgate games, curling, and the zip line which was sold out so we didn't do that.

They had a wall with all the NFL team helmets: this one's for you dad!

Of course I had to get a photo next to the Pats helmet and then in front of the Super Bowl poster.

We went into the game about 2 hours before the game started. Security looked much like airport security with pat downs, metal detectors and bag checks. They opened the doors at 2pm, but when we entered a little after 4, it didn't take us as long as I thought it would to get inside.

After walking through the Convention Center, and going through the NFL experience, we got outside to where we would enter Lucas Oil Stadium. Walking towards the South gate, we ran into Green-Ellis' girlfriend. She looked really normal (meaning not dolled up) and was nice and friendly.

We walked around the stadium for a bit. This was the view from the guy who got the field level seats a few hours before game time...I was so jealous!

This is me in my section. I was on level 4, which wasn't too bad, except I had a pillar obstructing my view of half the Patriots goal and some of the area b/t it and the 15 yard line. I did have a TV above me, but we still missed that whole 2 point score the Giant's made.

The Patriots were the home team, but with all the Colts/Anti-Patriots/Giants fans, the Patriots fans were outnumbered more than 5 to 1. It was crazy. I was surrounded by Giants fans where I was sitting. There weren't any Pats fans to high five when we did score. It was a good game, but I was so nervous come halftime. I did participate in the halftime show, everyone was given a seat cushion with a flashlight in it. We were given instructions prior to the halftime show. So, all those lights you saw in the stands during the halftime show were the little flashlights they gve us. Because I had a TV above me, all the music and sound was off. We heard the voices and singing in real time, but the feed on the TV was quite off (behind) which drove me kind of nuts.

We did not get to see any Super Bowl commercials other than the M&Ms one since they were a sponsor. During commercial breaks, they showed highlights of the 2011 football season including best catches, bloopers and past Super Bowl highlights.

I bought nachos and a drink and was so nervous after falling earlier this season and spilling everything, but fortunately I was on the end of the aisle, so no one could trip me. I bought those just before the half, but I was so nervous and had a bad feeling that I was shaking and lost my appetite. It was horrible. So many Pats fans thought the Pats were going to crush the Giants, but I kept saying it was going to be a close game and I was nervous. I was proven right. I knew it was over after Wes Welker missed that pass. Pretty much from the Patriots first drive in the game when the Giants scored 2 points (which I totally missed b/c of the obstructed view and not knowing the rule or having the announcers explain it like they did on TV) I felt the Giants were going to win. I left with the few Pats fans that were in my section with 1 minute left in the game. I did see that missed catch in the end zone when the clock went to 0 as I got to the first level of the stadium and did not bother staying for the celebration. I wanted to get away from all the Giants fans.

I walked over a mile to wait for my colleague to pick me up and take me to the airport. I took the 12:45 am direct flight to Boston. I was fortunate enough to have the row to myself so I was able to sleep a bit on what was a very quiet flight. I am so glad I got that flight b/c it would have sucked having to fly out with everyone else the following day and deal with all the Giants fans. I felt like I kind of snuck out of Indy. The pilot kind of made a joke saying that they were going to keep the announcements to a minimum saying "the last thing you want to hear at 3am is that we are flying over the Hudson". Haha [sarcastic tone]. Oh and yes, our flight was delayed, late getting in and late to leave. We also had to wait for 6 private jets to take off before us.

We arrived in Boston a little after 3am. I was able to catch a cab and the cab driver was very friendly. He asked where we were all coming from without having bags with us. When I told him the game he was like, "oh wow, they told us a flight was coming in but didn't tell us from where." He said he felt sorry for us having been there and spending all that money, feeling more sorry for us than everyone else in Boston. He said it was surprisingly quiet after the game and that they had shut down Government Center and Kenmore Square. We discussed the game and experience the entire drive into Brookline and he said if anyone asks if I regret going to say not too many people get to go to a Super Bowl. He was very kind and even asked if I wanted him to wait for me until I got inside, which I said no, but that was kind.

I arrived home at 3:45 am and finally fell asleep around 5am. I had to change out of clothes I had been wearing since 10am Saturday and it was nice to shower and climb into my bed. I slept until 1pm today and will be avoiding the news and anything football for the next week, much like I did the week leading up to the Super Bowl. I have other things to look forward to, on deck in 4 weeks, I'll be on my way to South America!