A football game is supposedly the main attraction of the Super Bowl, but the fanfare surrounding the game seems to subsume it at times. Last season’s Super Bowl in East Rutherford, N.J., just outside New York City, was perhaps the pinnacle of NFL decadence to date. Midtown Manhattan was turned into a winter playground, and naturally transportation to New Jersey became a boondoggle on gameday.
Super Bowl 2015: Schedule, weekend of events for Patriots vs. Seahawks
Super Bowl week is always an extravagant affair. This year, Phoenix is creating an adult playground in its downtown, replete with a climbing wall and loose rules governing alcohol.
Super Bowl 49 in Glendale may not live up to last season’s absurdity, though the fact that the city of Phoenix is opening up some of its streets to alcohol consumption promises shenanigans. Starting Wednesday, an enclosed nine-block area will feature concerts, games and fireworks. A 100-foot rock climbing wall will serve as a centerpiece.
By the weekend, proceedings will become a little more serious, starting with press conferences by Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on Friday. There will still be curiosities, however, including a chocolate expo, a gospel show, a celebrity golf tournament and the “Taste of the NFL” featuring signature dishes from each NFL city.
Unfortunately for fans, a few of the activities, while worth looking forward to, will be difficult to see live. Seeing Bleichik and Carroll give their final press conferences will likely require a press pass, for example. Other activities are cost prohibitive, like the $700 ticket to go to the Taste of the NFL.
Other events like Saturday’s autograph signing are free, however. The Glendale Chocolate Affaire also promises to be a good time, and also comes at a low, low price tag of zero dollars.
For more events in the Glendale/Phoenix area, check out this detailed calendar of Super Bowl and non-Super Bowl events courtesy of azcentral.com.
The full weekend schedule is below. For more details on each event, check out the official site of the Arizona Super Bowl host committee.
All times Eastern
Friday
8:30 a.m. -- Joint press conference with Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll
12 p.m. -- Glendale Chocolate Affaire
7:30 p.m. -- Super Bowl Gospel Celebration
3-9:30 p.m. -- NFL players autograph signings at University of Phoenix Stadium
Saturday
8:30 a.m. -- Arizona Super Bowl Run Series: NFL Alumni The Valors & Victors 5K
9 a.m. -- Super Bowl XLIX Celebrity Golf Classic
10 a.m. -- NFL players autograph signings at University of Phoenix Stadium
10 a.m. -- Glendale Chocolate Affaire
7 p.m. -- Taste of the NFL
9 p.m. -- NFL Honors live broadcast on NBC
Sunday
5:15 p.m. -- Team warmups
6:15 p.m. -- National Anthem and player introductions
6:30 p.m. -- Super Bowl XLIX
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