The Cincinnati Bengals Lease at Paul Brown Stadium Remains Valid - ENQUIRER.COM

Hamilton Co. pays up for PBS turf
And Bengals make their rent payment
BY KIMBALL PERRY | KPERRY@ENQUIRER.COM

The Cincinnati Bengals lease at Paul Brown Stadium remains valid.

During weeks of arguments between the team and its landlord, Hamilton County, there were indications the lease might be defaulted because of disagreements over money.

Concerns about the possible default disappeared, though, when the team paid its 2006 rent Wednesday and Hamilton County starting reimbursing the Bengals for the stadium's new synthetic turf.

In recent weeks, Commissioner Todd Portune signaled that Hamilton County may not make the payments for the turf and its accompanying heating system, which were installed in 2004.

He said that the Bengals insisted on grass fields when the stadium opened in 2000 and the synthetic turf was needed only after the grass kept dying.

The Bengals, insisting the lease required the county to pay for stadium enhancements already in other NFL stadiums, offered Hamilton County to reimburse it for the turf - costing $889,000 - in three yearly payments.

Portune wanted the county administration to investigate whether taxpayers had to foot the bill.

After the Bengals threatened to declare the county in violation of the 30-year lease if the turf payment wasn't made by Wednesday, commissioners reluctantly said they at least would make this year's payment.

Hamilton County paid the team $296,535.32 on Tuesday, County Administrator Patrick Thompson said.

Wednesday was also the deadline for the team to pay its 2006 rent for Paul Brown Stadium.

Thompson said the Bengals sent the rent check Wednesday morning. The lease called for the team to pay $1.1 million for the 2006 season.

Animosity between the sides was heightened after Hamilton County filed a federal lawsuit against the Bengals and the National Football League, alleging they used their monopoly to win a lease unfavorable to the public, paying for the $450 million stadium with a sales tax.

The lawsuit was thrown out but is being appealed.

LONDON TO HOST NFL REGULAR-SEASON GAME - NFLMedia.com

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-2000 * FAX (212) 681-7573
WWW.NFLMedia.com

Joe Browne, Executive Vice President-Communications
Greg Aiello, Vice President-Public Relations

LONDON TO HOST NFL REGULAR-SEASON GAME

London will be the venue for the first regular-season NFL game to be played outside North America, the National Football League announced today.

The NFL will stage the first in its new series of international regular-season games in the United Kingdom’s capital city in the fall of 2007. NFL owners voted in October to play up to two games outside the United States every year for the next five years, with the series kicking off with a single game in 2007.

“There is great interest in the NFL around the world,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. “Playing a limited number of regular-season games outside the United States is the next step for us in serving that interest. This is what our international fans, media partners, and sponsors want. There is no better place to begin this initiative than London. It is one of the
great cities of the world with an established and growing fan base for our game. We are thrilled to bring the excitement of the NFL regular season to the United Kingdom.”

London’s effort to secure the game was supported by Mayor of London KEN LIVINGSTONE, who visited Commissioner Goodell in New York to state the city’s case for staging an NFL game.

“London is proud to host the first competitive NFL game held outside the North American continent,” Mayor Livingstone said. “There are many NFL fans in London – both American and non-American – and this will be a spectacular sporting occasion. The Super Bowl is followed by almost five-million people in the UK. Hosting an NFL game in London will bring more than
10,000 international visitors to the city. London will be working with the NFL to build on this success to ensure that Londoners, NFL fans, international visitors, and the tens of millions who will watch the game on television have a great day of sport and experience London at its best."

London was selected based upon several factors, including general fan interest, current NFL visibility through existing media agreements, the range and quality of large, world-class stadia, including Wembley and Twickenham, the size and value of the overall sports and entertainment market and the potential to build year-round marketing, sponsorship and fan engagement.
More details about the London game – including the venue and participating teams – are expected to be confirmed during Super Bowl week (January 29-February 4) in South Florida.

The NFL staged its first regular-season game outside of the United States in 2005 when 103,467 people saw the Arizona Cardinals play the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City on October 2 – the largest crowd for a regular-season game in NFL history.
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"Tom Cruise Coming?" Anatomy Of A Super Bowl Party - Baeur's Hosts "Pure Rush" The Miami Party 2007

BAUER'S PURE RUSH UPDATE - TICKET DISCOUNT. Celebrities from the NFL and Hollywood like The Black Eyed Peas, Troy Aikman and Serena Williams are officially comfirmed for this dual-site party to be held at The Havana Club in Miami at 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, 55th Floor, Miami City Club, Miami, Florida and from 8 PM to 10 PM. This is a TWO SITE PARTY!

The second site for the party is at BRICKS, located at 66 SW 6th Street, Miami. The Premier VIP ticket is $600, but you can buy it for $550 here by clicking on "BAUER'S PURE RUSH SUPER BOWL PARTY" and using the promotional code "sportsbiz".

Last year, my friend Gary Bauer, who owns Bauer’s Limousine based in San Francisco, was a spectator at Super Bowl XL. I should know; he was sitting with me. This year, he worked to "up his game" and become one of the producers of a Super Bowl Party. He's teaming up with the "Pure Rush" party planners to bring about "Baeur's Hosts 'Pure Rush' The Miami Party 2007."

A party of this size calls for one thing: major sponsors. To land them, you have to hype the event and imply that stars like Tom Cruise will be there in full effect. As such, the organizers of the event have put together a cool PDF file that "sells" the event, and even mentions...Tom Cruise. My good friend Beth, who met Gary through me when we all worked on the bid to bring the Super Bowl to Oakland, got an email about sponsorship for the party and forwarded it to me. The PDF starts with this page:


THE EVENT THE EVENT
Touted by sports anchor, Andrew Siciliano, Fox
Sports/Radio, "Pure Rush hosted the BEST party at super
Bowl! The hottest girls and best party scene!"

PURE RUSH, known to Athletes, Celebrities, and Media, as some of the greatest producers
of high-profile events, will again host one of its LEGENDARY evenings, in conjunction with
Bauer’s Limousine, Thursday, February 1st, 2007!

The opening event of Super Bowl
weekend, BAUER’s and PURE RUSH will treat the city, athletes, entertainers, corporate
clients, and the media, to a truly unique party experience! Like every PURE RUSH event, a
great mix of superstar athletes and celebrities will be on hand to get the party and Super
Bowl weekend started in style!

"PURE RUSH was by far the best party at Super Bowl," Tony
Bruno, Sporting News Radio.



It's basically a look at the anatomy of a Super Bowl party. (Ok, excuse the pun, but the pict of the party girls came with the sponsorship document I got. I guess they'll be there.) Here's the email below, but note that I've left out full names to protect the participants.

Beth,

Sorry for catching you off guard like that...thanks so much for your help with this!!!

We are thrilled to have BNC PR as our PR firm handling all of our media strategies. With the strength of both our events, Bauer's and Maxim, we know the media coverage will be incredible.

We also have Global Sports securing the celebrities and athletes and ensuring that the VIP experience is first rate.

Listed below are attending guests recap from the Agency after the party in Jacksonville.

Let me know if there is anything else I can get you to help with this... Happy Holidays and we can visit when you get back.

Warmest

Michelle T

Attending Athletes, Celebrities, Guests and Media

The following list includes a sampling of legendary athletes, celebrities, media and guests who attended the event in Jacksonville, Florida.



ATHLETES
Anderson, Alfred NFL (Steelers)
Anderson Cadillac #1 Draft Pick
Anderson, Ottis NFL (Cardinals, Giants) HOST
Augustyniak, Mike NFL (Jets)
AyodeleAkin, NFL (Jaguars)
Bascak, Cris MLB (Mets)
Bettis, Jerome NFL (Steelers)
Brodeur, Martin NHL (Devils)
Brown, Larry NFL (Cowboys)
Brown, Ray NFL (Redskins)
Brown, Troy NFL (Super Bowl Patriots)
Clayton, Mark NFL Draft WR Oklahoma
Crockett, Ray NFL (Broncos)
Culpepper, Daunte NFL (Vikings)
Dennis, Al NFL AD (Seahawks)
Dorsett, Tony NFL(Cowboy's, Bronco's)
Duper, Mark NFL (Dolphins)
Edwards, Braylon NFL projected #4 pick in Draft
Esiason, Boomer NFL (Bengals)
Eller Car lNFL (Vikings)
Elway, John NFL (Broncos)
Faulkner, Len NFL (Seahawks)
Foreman, Chuck NFL (Vikings) (HOST)
Gatling, Chris NBA (Miami Heat)
George, Eddie NFL (Oilers, Titans)
Givens, Drew NFL (Broncos)
Gonzalez, Tony NFL (Chiefs)
Gordon, Jeff NASCAR
Green, David NFL Draft QB Georgia
Hartwell, Ed NFL (Ravens)
Irons, Grant NFL (Raiders)
Jefferson, Roy NFL (Steelers, Redskins)
John-Baptiste, Peter NFL (Giants)
Johnson, Billy "White Shoes" NFL (Oilers)
Jones, Joe "Turkey" NFL (Steelers)
Jones, Julius NFL (Cowboys)
Kelsey, Chris NFL (Bills)
Kennedy, Lincoln NFL (Seahawks)
Lankford, Paul NFL (Dolphins)
Law, Ty NFL (Super Bowl Patriots)
Lee, Larry NFL (Lion's)
Marshall, Grant NHL (Devils)
Martin, Curtis NFL (Jets)
Martin, Kelvin NFL (Cowboys)
May, Ted MLB (Yankee's)
McGruger, “Scooter” Mike NFL (Patriots)
Mecklenburg, Karl NFL (Broncos)
Merriweather, Mike NFL (Vikings)
Moore, Nat NFL (Dolphins)
Mooreman, Brian NFL (Bills)
Morris, Mercury NFL(Dolphins)
Oates, Bart NFL (Giants)
Orton, Kyle NFL Draft QB Purdue
Payton, Eddie NFL (Lion's)
Pisarick, Joe NFL (Eagles)
Pressley, Josh MLB (Royals)
Rein, John NFL (Lion's)
Rogers, Aaron NFL, #1 Draft Pick
Sanders, Dion NFL (Ravens)
Sharpe, Shannon NFL (Broncos)
Sherrard, Mike NFL (49er's)
Smith, Lance NFL (Giants)
Smith, Rod NFL (Broncos)
Smith, Terrelle NFL (Browns)
Stevens, Scott NHL (Devils)
Stewart, Shannon MLB (Twins)
Stinson, Lemuel NFL (Bear's)
Strahan, Michael NFL (Giants)
Swann, Lynn NFL (Steelers)
Taylor, Charlie NFL (Redskins)
Taylor, Lawrence NFL (Giants)
Thomas, Thurman NFL (Bill's, Dolphins)
Vanderjerk, Mike NFL (Colts)
Watters, Ricky NFL (49's, Eagles, Seahawks)
Webb, Spud NBA (Hawks)
White, Jason NFL (Steelers)
Williams, Byron NFL (Giants)
Williams, Doug NFL (Bucs)
Williams, Roland NFL (Raiders)
Woodson, Darrion NFL (Cowboys)
Woodson, Rob NFL (Steelers)
Wright, Eric NFL (49's)
**HONOREE'S**

MEDIA
Berlin, David Fox Sports Net
Acampora, Anthony Sporting News Radio
Allegre, Raul NFL, ESPN
Berman, Chris ESPN
Betesh, Sam Sportscaster, Fox Sports
Calufetti, Larry Sporting News Radio
Cox, Brian NFL/Fox
Dickerson, Greg Fox Sports
Galanty, Katherine Westwood One Radio
Hagen, David Sirus Radio
Holzman, Tami Spike TV/Universal
Kaze, Benji Fox Sports Net
Kucko John Sportscaster
Mammeli, David Fox Sports Net
Martin, Alvaro ESPN
McDowell, Rachel Fox Sports Net
Meyers, Chris Fox Sports
Pavlotis, Nick Sirus Radio
Pilger, Andrew Fox Sports Net
Pressley, Buddy Sporting News Radio
Pressley, Ed Sporting News Radio
Pressley, Howard Sporting News Radio
Rosario, Andrew NY Beacon
Schein, Adam Sirus Radio
Siciliano, Andrew Sportscaster, Fox Sports
Thomas, Cat WAPE-FM
Walker, Doc Pro Preview
White, Joe Jacksonville Magazine
Zimmerman, John Sporting News Radio


COVERAGE
Entertainment Tonight
ABC Affiliate
CBS Affiliate
Detroit Free Press
ESPN
Florida Times Union
Fox 25 News
Inside Edition
Miami Herald
NBC Affiliate
NECN
NFL Network
People Magazine
WBZ-5 Boston

SPECIAL GUESTS
Banner, Joe President, (Eagles)
Baxter, David President, Reebok
Borojevic, Sarita National Football League
Dupree, Mark National Football League
Gabriel, Roman National Football League
Glanzman, Amy National Football League ALUMNI
Goodson, Michael Sports Agent
Jones, Dan Sports Agent, Intersport
Judge, Clayton National Football League
Kurek, Ken Jacksonville 39
Michaelson, Mike Owner (Eagles)
Miller, David Detroit Mayor's Office
Newsome, Mike Preident, Nike
Payton, Connie Wife, Walter Payton
Robinson, Stacy National Football League -PA
Rosenthal, Adam Sports Agent, CSMG
Stahlberger, Ira Sports Agent, Intersport

CELEBRITIES
Affleck, Ben Actor
Coors, Twins Models
Fantone, Joey N'Sync
Hammer, MC Singer
Hawiian Tropic Girls, Models
Lachey, Nick 98°
Lopez, Jennifer Actress
Moore, Melba Singer/Actress
Morris, Nathan Boyz II Men
Popper, John Blues Travelers
Rucker, Darius Hootie & The Blow Fish
Black Eyed Peas
Wilson, Owen Actor
Ying Yang Twins, Group

--------------------------------------------------------------

All I can say is "wow." The sponsorship offers are extensive for the price, which is between $14,000 and $100,000. I'm not the sales person for the event, so I'm not going to go into all of that. But it's cool to be able to look "behind the scenes" of the event before it happens. I'm set to go, so I'll let you know how it turns out.

Jerry Reese, GM - NY Giants Gutsy Front Office Move The Right One!

Another great Giants Piece by Arthur Staple-My comments at the end.

Reese facing challenges with Giants
After being named GM today, he'll have to fill quite a few holes

BY ARTHUR STAPLE
Newsday Staff Writer

January 16, 2007

Jerry Reese will be officially named Giants general manager this morning at a news conference. Had the Giants not stumbled to an 8-8 record with a 2-6 second half of the season and then lost to the Eagles in the playoffs nine days ago, Reese's appointment would have been made sooner.

But Giants president John Mara and treasurer Jonathan Tisch took their time evaluating the front office and coaching staff before deciding to stay the course. So they brought Tom Coughlin back for at least one more season as coach and will name Reese, 43, as Ernie Accorsi's successor, as the retiring Accorsi wanted it.

Reese started as a scout for the Giants in 1994 and worked his way up, from assistant director of pro personnel to director of player personnel, a job in which he oversaw the Giants' last four drafts. He is the third African-American general manager in the NFL, joining Baltimore's Ozzie Newsome and Houston's Rick Smith.

The priorities for Reese this offseason start with finding a running back to fill the void left by Tiki Barber's retirement. That will likely be accomplished through free agency -- the Packers' Ahman Green is a free agent and the Chargers' Michael Turner is a restricted free agent -- rather than with early draft picks in April. The Giants may seek a veteran to complement Brandon Jacobs.

The Giants also must decide whether to sign center Shaun O'Hara. He and kicker Jay Feely are the only significant players who would be unrestricted free agents. O'Hara's agent, Tony Agnone, negotiated with the team briefly during the season, but O'Hara didn't want the talks to drag on; plus, with Accorsi retiring, there was no GM to sign off on a long-term deal.

On defense, Reese may look to the draft to grow some talent. One player told Newsday that Coughlin tore Corey Webster apart at halftime of the Redskins game on Dec. 30, and Webster, the Giants' top pick (second round) in 2005, has not developed as the team had hoped, so another high pick on a cornerback may be needed.

The same is true at linebacker, where Carlos Emmons may have played his last game as a Giant and Brandon Short is unrestricted. The Giants took Gerris Wilkinson in the third round last season, but he was inactive for the playoff loss after a spotty season spent primarily on special teams.

My slant: Why do i think it's a smart move? he's been with the team 12 years. He smart, still young at 43, and he knows personnel. So he is only the 3rd minority GM in Pro football. but this is the best thing for the team on so many levels.
Even with the turmoil at the end of the season, this is a no -brainer.

"I Have A Dream" - The Full Video Speech Of Martin Luther King

This proves the amazing value of YouTube and other video distribution systems. We now have history right at our fingertips. What's presented to you above is the video of what some call the greatest speech ever given in history, Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream Speech". Below, the text of the speech.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

SUPER BOWL XLI : Miami Hotel Rates Double For Event - NY Times

The Super Bowl Means Super-Size Hotel Rates

By JENNIFER CONLIN - NY TIMES
Published: January 14, 2007

Finding a moderately priced hotel room in Miami during the winter is never easy, but securing one over Super Bowl weekend (Feb. 2 to 5) is a totally different ballgame, regardless of availability.

This weekend, for instance, the rate for a double room at the Miami Airport Holiday Inn is $190. For the night before the Super Bowl , that room goes for $430. At the already pricey Delano, a city view deluxe room that would have cost $775 for last night is more than twice that amount, $1,625, on Feb. 4 (and it’s booked solid). Even the ultraexpensive Setai is requiring guests to stay a minimum of seven nights during Super Bowl week, at $950 a night for a double room.

Robert Tuchman, president of TSE Sports & Entertainment (www.tseworld.com), said his company was selling four-night Super Bowl packages with upper-level game tickets, but without air fare. For example, $5,850 a person gets a double room at the Westin in Fort Lauderdale, while $7,350 a person puts you in a penthouse suite at the Albion South Beach.

(The actual ticket prices are $600 and $700. Most tickets are technically available through the 30 National Football League teams, but are essentially sold out. Brokers charge far more for the tickets.)

“When you couple the Super Bowl with a great location like Miami, hotels can charge five times their normal price,” Mr. Tuchman said, adding that last year’s location, Detroit (featuring the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers, above), was a bit of a bust. “We only sent around 300 people,” he said. “This year, we already have a thousand.”

His packages include an autographed football, a celebrity golf tournament and a Sunday morning chat with a former N.F.L. player or coach.

Loyal N.F.L. team followers might prefer “fan packages,” starting this week, from Sports Traveler (www.sportstraveler.net), a Chicago-based company. It is $6,300 to $7,500, including three or four nights accommodation, reserved game tickets and air fare from your championship team’s city. A required deposit of $200 to $500 is refunded if your team doesn’t make the big game. But, as Mr. Tuchman said, “The Super Bowl has become such a spectacle, most people don’t even come anymore just for the game.”

CBS Has Only Sold 70 Percent Of Super Bowl XLI Ads - Mediaweek

January 15, 2007

By John Consoli Mediaweek

NEW YORK -- The Super Bowl has become a super pain for the broadcast networks to sell.

Case in point: CBS this year. With just three weeks to go until kickoff, the network has sold slightly more than 70% of the in-game commercial units. And with a total of 58 spots, the network still has about 16 slots available.

With so much potential revenue and prestige at stake—CBS could take in as much as $140 million on the three-hour game alone, in addition to millions from the six hours of pre-game programming—the three weeks prior to kickoff can generate severe angst for sales teams facing fourth and goal.

One media agency executive described this current Super Bowl selling season: "CBS is definitely in hustle mode, trying to come up with any innovative way possible to move those in-game units."

As the cost of a 30-second spot rises each year, so does the pressure on advertisers to come up with innovative and creative spots that will be talked about and acted upon by the 78 million viewers who tune in. The growing popularity of polls such as USA Today Ad Meter, which have consumers rate the in-game commercials the next day, has become a major factor in the decision-making process of advertisers as to whether or not they should create a spot and run it in the Super Bowl.

One network sales executive, who has sold past Super Bowls, said the next two weeks are crucial for CBS to get a bulk of the remaining units sold before Feb. 5. "It's OK to go into the week before the game with three or four units left, but it can be a real problem if you have more than that," the exec said.

The closer to game day, the more the ad community is in the driver's seat as far as trying to price down the spots because the network cannot sharply lower prices without running the risk of alienating clients who came in early and paid more.

While the remaining spots are mostly in fourth quarter and early birds most likely are in the first half when the attention level is usually higher, no advertiser, regardless of placement, is going to be happy seeing a straggler get in the game at a deep discount.

"There are always Super Bowl units still available at this point, but this year there seem to be more left than the norm," said one media exec, echoing the viewpoint of many contacted for this story.

But John Bogusz, CBS evp-sports sales and marketing, and Tony Taranto, svp of NFL sales at CBS, both insist the network is right where it was sellout level-wise when it televised the Super Bowls in '01 and '04.

"It is getting to be a harder sell, and we do wish more advertisers would embrace it for what it is and take advantage of the huge audience it draws," said Bogusz, acknowledging the harder slog to sell out. Added Taranto, "Advertisers should realize that in addition to the in-game units, those ads are going to be replayed all over the Internet in the days and weeks following the game. Awareness levels for those ads rise every year."

But that heightened awareness of the commercials—not the price tag per spot, which this year ranges anywhere from $2 million to $2.6 million depending on pod location and quantity bought—can be the problem, according to media agencies charged with buying Super Bowl spots for clients.

"The decision an advertiser faces is not a price dilemma," said Marc Goldstein, CEO at media agency MindShare. "The reason advertisers may not go in is because of creative issues. No one wants to run an old commercial in the Super Bowl, so you have to go out and spend money to produce a new one. And the advertiser wants to make sure that this commercial does well in all the recall and opinion polls the next day. Many advertisers feel if they do not have a new product to launch, it is not worth the risk."