Official Thread for Those Going to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI

[Tunescribe]

Patriots fans are not being well received. Ive had my fair share of insults and barbs thrown.

Been here only three hours and, sadly, must agree. The waitress in the restaurant we just ate at was wearing a freaking Giants shirt.

 

[shmessy]

Are you going there? I was thinking about it but ut's about 6 miles from where I'm staying and I kind of hate to drive on Saturday night.

Just wait until you see three stars in the sky, babe.

 

[Hardboiled]

Just hold up 4 fingers and smile. It'll deflect anything.

 

[rainmaker]

Frigging obnoxious NY Giants fans. Was at Fogo de Chao for dinner tonight and they were doing some lame chant. Then, ripped apart of Bruschi jersey. A couple of us Pats fans ran in front of their video just to mess it up. It's going to be hard to not get in a fight. A Pats victory will be so sweet! Waitress said, she's becoming a Pats fan after how the Giants fans have behaved all week. Also, she said a few Giants players have been in throughout the week, but they haven't seen any Pats players. Good sign for our boys.

 

[player52]

im heading down tonight i really hope my inebriated self doesn't get into a fight with a giants fan

 

[Triumph]

Been here only three hours and, sadly, must agree. The waitress in the restaurant we just ate at was wearing a freaking Giants shirt.

Any diehard Colts fan is a NY Giant fan this weekend, Giant fans are lapping up the praise like the big Saps they all are.

 

[Triumph]

im heading down tonight i really hope my inebriated self doesn't get into a fight with a giants fan

I got into a group of Giants fans faces last night. Me vs them. They were doing that Lets go Giants chant at a bar I was at with 4 Pats fans from Seattle that I met.

I shut them right up with facts.

By the time I left, I could see the look of doubt on their faces that this game isnt going to be like SB42.

 

[SoCal Bong]

Friend of mine got a ticket for $1k just a little while ago. Not sure if the entire market has actually fallen to near face value but he at least was able to score a fantastic deal.

 

[player52]

Friend of mine got a ticket for $1k just a little while ago. Not sure if the entire market has actually fallen to near face value but he at least was able to score a fantastic deal.

yeah we got offered some nose bleeds for 1600 a pair but decided not to go. glad we didn't what a tough loss

 

[juny]

Post-Indy trip quick thoughts. Definitely felt the buzz and excitement of the big event as soon as I stepped out of the parking garage. Was a great first experience at the big game, everything went well except the end.

1) Indy actually turned out to be a good host city. Having so much stuff around the downtown stadium area definitely helps. I was only there game day but could see there was enough to do within walking distance to stay entertained.

2) Where were all the Pats fans? Seemed like there were about 8-10 Giants jerserys for every Pats. Doesn't help when a Pats season ticket holder sells their seats (at face) to a Giants fan. (yes true story guy behind me at gift shop)

3) Lucas Oil is a nice stadium. Impressive building.

4) Despite being outnumbered badly, did not get any grief from the nearby Giants fans. I guess they aren't all bad.

 

[JoeinIndy]

Thank you to everyone who came out over the weekend. It was a tough loss but you guys made it easier.

 

[Gronkandez]

Post-Indy trip quick thoughts. Definitely felt the buzz and excitement of the big event as soon as I stepped out of the parking garage. Was a great first experience at the big game, everything went well except the end.

1) Indy actually turned out to be a good host city. Having so much stuff around the downtown stadium area definitely helps. I was only there game day but could see there was enough to do within walking distance to stay entertained.

2) Where were all the Pats fans? Seemed like there were about 8-10 Giants jerserys for every Pats. Doesn't help when a Pats season ticket holder sells their seats (at face) to a Giants fan. (yes true story guy behind me at gift shop)

3) Lucas Oil is a nice stadium. Impressive building.

4) Despite being outnumbered badly, did not get any grief from the nearby Giants fans. I guess they aren't all bad.

My post Indy trip thoughts are I hate people who live in Indianapolis. This is the second time I've been there to visit friends and both times, every single person I've met has said "I hate Tom Brady and the Patriots F them...." A bunch of people got in my face after the game too and none of them were Giants fans , just Indy aholes.

I ended up watching the game at the Slippery Noodle bar. They had a huge tent with two huge projection screens. The cover was only $10 which included live music after the game, which of course I didn't hang around for. Covers were much much lower than some people said they would be.

 

[SoCal Bong]

Thanks for your feedback juny and Gronkandez.

It would be great to hear from others who went about their experience.

• What would you do differently and what worked well?
• Did anyone try going by the team hotels?
• Did you come across any celebs or NFL players or media just walking around town?
• What kinds of things should you have had advanced reservations for?
• Where was the best place to find ticket scalpers? Did they have official stadium staff on hand to confirm that tickets were legit?
• Did Super Bowl merchandise go to half price on Monday (it did in Arizona in '08)?
• What tips do you have for someone going to a future Super Bowl?
• Was the WEEI party worth $100?
• How was the Patriots Fan Takeover event at Broad Ripple?
• Have a good time at Spencer's Stadium Tavern?
• Does anyone have a good explanation as to why there were so many Giants fans compared to Pats fans? Was it really local Colts fans shifting?
• Is anyone booking a refundable hotel in New Orleans for next year just in case?

The Pats have been to the Super Bowl 5 times in the last 10 years and it's no unrealistic to think that it could happen again in the near future so providing useful info here will be a great service to Patriots Nation.

Thanks!

 

[Gronkandez]

The 98.5 party was awful for me. I walked in at 5:30pm to a cloud of cigar and cigarette smoke. I stayed for one drink and quickly got out of there.

My friend scalped a ticket for $675 but it took until half way through the first quarter to get that price.

All the aluminum cans of beer were $6 at virtually every bar.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Hope everyone who went got their measles shots.

 

[Tunescribe]

Where were all the Pats fans? Seemed like there were about 8-10 Giants jerserys for every Pats.

They outnumbered us but inside the stadium Pats fans made just as much noise as Giants fans. I was surprised and impressed by that.

A few other general observations:

I can confirm that Indianapolis is not Pats fan-friendly. It was more irritating than truly problematic. I noticed it mostly from the hired help in restaurants, etc. In one establishment I walked up to place my order and the girl at the cash register greeted me with a serious face saying "Oh no, a Patriots fan."

Was anyone else struck by all the Christian evangelists around the place preaching through megaphones, holding signs, handing out literature, etc.? They were everywhere!

The price gouging was horrific for food, parking and souvenirs. Some restaurants had temporary menus printed on copy paper with jacked-up prices. One restaurant we walked into had temporary tent awnings erected over the entrance and along the side of the building where they set up folding tables and stools so they could "serve" more people at inflated prices. Service was predictably horrible so we left.

In the convention center leading to the stadium they had a huge room for souvenir gear -- everything you can imagine but at 75-percent markup (easily) over regular retail. Plastic beads with a team logo went for $30. A Patriots commemorative AFC champs towel available on eBay for $9.95 was going for $35. A beer inside the stadium was $11.

I didn't spend much time seeking out entertainment Saturday night or before the game. The streets seemed crowded by hundreds of local high school kids milling around in groups. Lots of lines to get into places, especially bars. I thought that zip line ride they have set up was silly: folks paid a lot to get on it and it didn't go very far.

The stadium itself is impressive but I could not imagine sitting in those nosebleeds in the south end zone. They looked like they were in the stratosphere a mile from the field. Does anyone know where the 3,000 temporary seats were? I looked around and didn't see anything that looked like temp seats.

The PA announcer had a weird authoritarian voice.

Isn't it funny how you can tell a New Yorker just by looking at him/her? They look like they're from their own country.

I'm still a bit depressed about the outcome, wish there was more positive to share. Indy wasn't a "bad" place for a Super Bowl but everyone lucked out with the weather. A snowstorm would've made things miserable.

 

[PatsDeb]

Thanks for your feedback juny and Gronkandez.

It would be great to hear from others who went about their experience.

• What would you do differently and what worked well?
• Did anyone try going by the team hotels?
• Did you come across any celebs or NFL players or media just walking around town?
• What kinds of things should you have had advanced reservations for?
• Where was the best place to find ticket scalpers? Did they have official stadium staff on hand to confirm that tickets were legit?
• Did Super Bowl merchandise go to half price on Monday (it did in Arizona in '08)?
• What tips do you have for someone going to a future Super Bowl?
• Was the WEEI party worth $100?
• How was the Patriots Fan Takeover event at Broad Ripple?
• Have a good time at Spencer's Stadium Tavern?
• Does anyone have a good explanation as to why there were so many Giants fans compared to Pats fans? Was it really local Colts fans shifting?
• Is anyone booking a refundable hotel in New Orleans for next year just in case?

The Pats have been to the Super Bowl 5 times in the last 10 years and it's no unrealistic to think that it could happen again in the near future so providing useful info here will be a great service to Patriots Nation.

Thanks!

Hello, I will respond even though I am laying low because I feel bad enough about the loss and don't want to read everyone's whining (for those whining - I am sure some are not).

1. The two things I would do differently (maybe) is wait until game day to buy tickets and try a little harder to stay closer to the stadium. I bought my tickets a week before and paid high, when I could have waited. A friend paid 1/2 what I paid (although my seats were better) on game day and it seemed there were plenty of tickets available. We stayed an hour outside Indy in Bloomington and the accomodations were fine and relatively cheap, but driving an hour back and forth was kind of a bummer. I will say that we did not have traffic problems though, either Saturday night or Sunday.

2. and 3. I did not try to go to team hotels, nor did I see anyone famous.

4. I had my tickets and hotel reserved in advance. Did not have dinner reservations anywhere and found I did not need them.

5. I did not scalp, so didn't pay much attention, but there were ticket brokers open on game day on the main drag & it looked like you could walk right in and buy.

6. Superbowl merchandise was going for 1/2 price at the airport on Monday. Lots of people buying (except me ). Stuff being sold downtown on Sat. and game day was predictably expensive.

7. Tips - don't panic & buy your tickets too early, like I always do .

8 & 9. Didn't go to WEEI party or Broad Ripple.

9. Went to Spencer's on Saturday night, both upon arrival in Indy and on our way out (we parked right across the street). Lots of Pats fans there early, not so many late (must have gone to Broad Ripple). It was a good place to have a drink, but it is a dive. I don't intend that as an insult; I am a little older than most fans on here and don't go to those kinds of places in my dotage. It was fun to have a drink there though. Most people there were rather smashed, including the folks I met from East Providence, RI. We ate elsewhere (no lines if you looked around a bit).

10. When we first arrived on Sat. night, Pats fans were scarce. However, I thought it evened out on Sunday, but by that I mean it was 1/3 Giants, 1/3 Pats and 1/3 Colts, most of whom were cheering for the Giants. On Sunday after walking around for a bit in the morning we happened upon a small bar called Coaches Tavern. When we walked in it was 80% Pats fans. We just weren't as loud as the obnoxious New Yorkers, and man they WERE obnoxious. Way worse than in AZ or Philly fans in 2004.

11. If the Pats are doing well, I usually make refundable hotel reservations in December. So, I'll wait a bit for that

Our team did not play well and I am really sad about the outcome of the game. But, I still love the Pats, still wore my gear coming home (and got lots of either sympathetic or commiserating comments) and I'm optomistic for next year. Therefore, I am taking time off from this site and most coverage until the negativity dies down.

"Talk" to ya soon.

 

[Triumph]

Thank you to everyone who came out over the weekend. It was a tough loss but you guys made it easier.

Thanks to you and your Dad Joe.

The Tavern was a good place to drown my sorrows after the game. A short walk from the stadium and the bartender got me a ride back to the motel from Charlie. All the cab companies were booked solid and wait times were an hour or more, if they even answered the phone.

The Stadium Tavern was a good place all week to hang out with other Pats fans. I was hoping to tell Timbow goodbye, but I couldnt blame him for going home after the game.

I'll be back though.

 

[Gronkandez]

Was anyone else struck by all the Christian evangelists around the place preaching through megaphones, holding signs, handing out literature, etc.? They were everywhere!

Ha ha I forgot to mention this. Literally on every block in the SB village, at outdoor seating at a Starbucks, EVERYWHERE, there was someone with a microphone preaching about Jesus to the ire of everyone around them. Some of my favorite signs were "There's no such thing a homosexual Christian"..."Woman should stay home and be clean up around the house and be innocent (I'm paraprashing)".

Welcome to Indianapolis ...where you can step back in time.

 

[juny]

Thanks for your feedback juny and Gronkandez.

It would be great to hear from others who went about their experience.

• Did you come across any celebs or NFL players or media just walking around town?
• What tips do you have for someone going to a future Super Bowl?

Thanks!

No celebs while walking around, but I did see the Pats team buses being police escorted on the way to the stadium. In the stadium, saw someone wearing a Branch jersey with rhinestones above the nameplate saying "is my brother". The Giant player relative behind me said it was cheesy, to each its own.

The StubHub pregame bash was actually decent. Free lunch - not great food but it's free. Also they had a player meet and greet session with photo op and autographs. I got to meet Doug Flutie, Tony Gonzalez and Larry Fitzgerald. Flutie was the best of them as he actually attempted to small talk to everyone while the other guys were there just posing and signing.

The "preachers" were annoying but were quickly drowned out as you walked away. Also saw a LAME "occupy" type march in the middle of the super bowl village. It is neither the time nor place to project your "message". People just want to have a good time.

Ticket prices did start to fall quite a bit starting the Friday before the game.

One question: Do hotels actually have a refundable policy during weekends like these? I figure they would make everyone pay up front for high demand weekends.