732 Days and Counting

Back in August of 2002, a Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee was elected, led by Chairman Roger Penske, in an effort to work as a liaison to the NFL and the Metro Detroit community to prepare for Super Bowl 2006. The four-year initiative has already made plans for:

• An SBXL Village surrounding Ford Field that will include drop off points, information centers and other possibilities to include covered walkways to the entertainment district.
• A regional shuttle program between hotels, major attractions in Southeast Michigan, Ford Field and other venues.
• Minority/women owned business development program to support the local business community.
• Welcome and volunteer programs to greet guests, provide information, accommodate VIPs and support the overall logistics.

The Committee and the NFL expect over 120,000 out-of-town guests to come to the Detroit Super Bowl, plus an additional 3,000 media representatives. The XL Super Bowl will be only the third Super Bowl played in a northern city.

The Super Bowl is the ultimate cool event, that cool cities get the opportunity to host. In her State of the State Address, Governor Granholm called on the citizens of this state and the business community to pull together to make our towns more attractive to young people. Now is the time for our community to embrace this call to action.

If you are interested in volunteering, the Committee is seeking help. To get more information, visit http://www.sbxl.org and click on the "volunteers" link at the top of the page. There, you can register to receive a newsletter and to offer your assistance.

Regardless of whether you have an interest in volunteering or not, all of us can play a key role in creating excitement over the event and in showcasing our area as a wonderful place to live, work, have fun and be entertained, and to visit. The casino industry is a key part of this equation providing a unique form of entertainment that is not available in many other Super Bowl locales. However, each of us can play a vital role just through our attitude.

Instead of being embarrassed about our town and self conscious about our weather or other aspects that are out of our control, we need to focus on our positives. The Detroit Metropolitan area has a lot to offer visitors in the way of unique entertainment and cultural experiences. We have some of the finest restaurants in the world, and some of the best facilities for entertaining. With everyone pulling together, and with top entertainers coming in to fill our venues, the Super Bowl XL experience can be second to none if we all try harder.

So, check your cynicism at the door, and put on your game face, and say good things about Detroit. See the advantages that we have over other towns and embrace them. In doing so, you may rekindle your own relationship with the town you have chosen as your home.