Miami Super Bowl Host Committee Brought the Big Game Excitement to Doral
Organized by Doral Family Journal for the community
By: María Alejandra Pulgar, @marialepulgar
DORAL, FL – One of the Most American Activities is attending a Super Bowl Party. And the excitement for the Big Game started with the festivities early in Doral this past October 9th with the visit and presentation by the Miami Super Bowl LIV Host Committee, at the InterContinental At Doral Miami, thanks to the vision of Doral Family Journal’s Director Ettore Sabatella, who organized this event for the enjoyment of all the community.
The bands and cheerleaders from Ronald W. Reagan/Doral Senior High School and Doral Academy Preparatory School performed to receive the more than 500 guests, in anticipation to the arrival of the coveted Lombardi Trophy, which will be awarded on February 2nd, 2020 to the winner of the LIV Super Bowl at the Hard Rock Stadium.
It has been ten years since Miami hosted a Super Bowl, and thanks to the investment made on the renovations of the Stadium by Stephen Ross and the Miami Dolphins organization, in addition to the due diligence of the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee (MSBHC) to win the bid with the NFL, South Florida will be able to host the event again in 2020, making it a historic 11th time for Miami, on the NFL’s 100th season.
“Between the members of the Board, the County co-chairs and MSBHC team we are a group of about 30 people”, explained Gloria Garcés, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for the committee. The team was formed in 2015 and serves as “a liaison between the host city and the NFL.”
Ms. Garcés was the moderator of the event in Doral, where a panel of members of MSBHC and County Commissioner Pepe Diaz shared their experiences on previous Super Bowls in Miami and their expectations for this upcoming edition.
Mr. Rodney Barreto is the Chairman of the Committee, the third time he serves on that position. He was very excited to see the success of the Doral event: “you see the enthusiasm of all the young kids and that is what it is all about, for everyone to be part of it.”
In his presentation, Barreto made the announcement that the company Perry Ellis, located in Doral, is going to make all uniforms for the 10,000 volunteers that will serve during Super Bowl week around the County on the different events that will take place.
“We are special, that is why we have the Super Bowl”
The hard work and enthusiasm of County Commissioner José “Pepe” Diaz for the Super Bowl, as well as his longstanding friendship with Mr. Barreto, make him an important support for the MSBHC.
“This is the 11th time we are hosting the event in Miami. A record! I love that we are ahead of everyone else” said Diaz, before introducing Mr. Rodney Barreto to the audience. “Miami-Dade County is unique; we have a unique blend of people nowhere else in the State. We are special and that is why we have the Super Bowl here, they all want to come here. It is so important to have these events because of the money and the jobs they bring, and for being acknowledged worldwide as an incredible and awesome community. Everybody is looking for these opportunities and we got it, and we are proud.”
Young Doral football players joined the celebration
The most special guests at the MSBHC presentation where the young members of the Doral community, who brought their contagious enthusiasm to the audience; young football players, band musicians and cheerleaders from local schools and teams were grateful for this unique chance to stand so close to the real Lombardi Trophy and connect first hand with the people that organize the greatest sport event of the year.
The youngest football players were from the Doral Broncos team, who came along with their coach and shared their impressions of the event:
Johnny Chavez, 11, who has been playing since he was 6 years old, was able to hold the trophy “it was really nice! It was worth waking up early coming to this event. I like playing with the Broncos because we are very close friends and we support each other, no matter if we win or lose.”
Julian Garcia, 9 years old, looks forward to one day play for the NFL. “It was worth it coming here early to being next to the Trophy.” Ethan Hernandez, 10, felt it was really cool to have the chance to stand right next to the trophy. Samuel Rodriguez, 11, said that he has never “been so close to such a valuable thing and it was wonderful. It was a one in a lifetime opportunity to have the trophy here in Doral”
Their Head Coach, Mr. Oliver Cruz expressed he was “very excited to be here with the Lombardi Trophy and having all this NFL experience in our home in Miami. Thank you to Doral Family Journal for putting together this great event and opportunity for the kids and for the community. I am very happy for it!”
SBLIV Economic Benefit Expected for the Tri-County Area
“Once the visitors come to Miami will see how Miami has evolved into an international city, our food, our culture, our music. It is going to be great!” said Mr. Rodney Barreto, Chairman of the MSBHC.
During his presentation, he explained that “with the Super Bowl’s rating as the most-watched single-day sporting event in the world year after year, reaching more than 100M viewers nationally and broadcasted in 170+ countries, all eyes will be on South Florida.”
“It is a great opportunity to introduce out-of-town attendees to new areas of development since the last game in 2010 such as Wynwood, Brickell, Midtown and Doral, as well as the newly renovated Hard Rock Stadium” and it is expected that “guests will pay top rates for hotels across Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, entertain at local restaurants, visit clubs, tour art galleries, attend events, etc.” Figures based on reports from previous host cities, place expectations on the economic impact generated from the event around “$500 million in business at the local level, which will be felt long after the game”.
Creating a long-lasting legacy for South Florida
It has been an objective of the committee to make Super Bowl LIV (SBLIV) “a historic experience for both visitors and locals across South Florida”. It inspired the concept “LIVe It Miami” which starts along with football season in the fall, up until Super Bowl Day, February 2nd, 2020. That initiative, united to the NFL 100 campaign, the Fantennial activations and several other activities, look forward to “provide unique opportunities to rally the community, generate excitement and highlight all Miami’s offerings and new developments since its last Super Bowl in 2010”
“Super Bowl LIV will generate global visibility with an estimated attendance of 1.5M at Super Bowl LIVE, including thousands of media from around the world”, said Mr. Barreto.
Raymond Martinez, Executive Director of the MSBHC explained that “Super Bowl has evolved beyond the game. Super Bowl Live is a whole week of events that everybody can be part of. It will be at Bayfront Park, free and open to the public, for people to enjoy a little taste of football, a little taste of Miami, and have a great time.”
During Super Bowl LIVE, those not going to the stadium can actively participate on the festivities in anticipation to the game, beginning on January 25th until February 1st. Like a weeklong tailgate party in preparation for the big day, people in attendance will enjoy free live concerts, activities with interactive technology to share their experience, aquatic shows, and players and legends meetups.
Rashad Thomas, Vice President of Business Connect and Legacy Projects shared that “through Business Connect, local minority-owned, women, LGBT and disabled veteran-owned businesses will have opportunities to benefit from Super Bowl LIV. A lot of the suppliers on the program are starting to receive our piece for contract opportunities. There are a lot of pieces moving along right now to connect suppliers to contract opportunities.” Business Connect is a partnership between the NFL and MSBHC.
He also explained the community-enhancing projects planned to leave for the community a legacy after the Super Bowl. Those projects are the renovation of the turf field at Gwen Cherry Park and Goulds Park; the Lighted Pathway at Key Biscayne and the restoration of the football field at Miami Beach Senior High School.
In addition to those projects, the MSBHC works in partnership with NFL on the Ocean to Everglades (O2E) campaign, to find “solutions that address the critical issues facing the health of the ocean and the Everglades”; and in partnership with The Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade, the committee launched the initiative Stop Sex Trafficking to combat that issue and “create paths to recovery and opportunity for all victims.”
Volunteer Opportunities to make SBLIV a success
Beyond the committee, the community in South Florida will as well be hosts to the visitors expected for the Super Bowl. Therefore the process of recruiting the volunteers needed is currently in progress.
“Volunteers are an essential part of the overall Super Bowl efforts”, said Gloria Garcés. ”As Miami gets ready to host the big game and invite the world to LIVe IT, the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee will recruit at least 10,000 volunteers to help represent our city and welcome our visitors.”
“The goal of the volunteers is to create a lasting impression by serving as ambassadors of our city and helping all tourists and locals, LIVe MIAMI to the fullest and in the most memorable way. Volunteers will play a key role in ensuring visitors have a positive experience in Miami and can’t wait to come back again, a multiplier effect for every tourism dollar “
People interested have to be older than 18 years old and register at www.miasbliv.com/volunteer/ where they can find more information on the requirements, interview and selection process, and training.
To full photos from this event, please click here