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.