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First Time Fans At Super Bowl Media Day

January 31, 2012

Thumbnail image for Manning.jpgBy Emari Traffie–1/31/2012
Fans filled the stands on Media Day.
For the first time in Super Bowl history, the NFL allowed spectators to watch the credentials-only event. The NFL offered 7,500 Media Day passes to fans at $25 a ticket. As a result, Lucas Oil Stadium was sold out.
Brad Showalter was one of those spectators. He said he felt like part of the in-crowd.
“Only the elite celebrities get into something like this, so I feel really included,” said Showalter.
DeMaurice Smith is the executive director of the NFL Players Association. He said it was the right decision to open up Media Day.
“I think anything we do that makes the game, or aspects of the game, accessible to more fans is a good thing,” said Smith. “I want to make sure as we go forward, we are always making the game more accessible.”
Even the players got a kick out of the new audience. During the press conference, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady stopped mid-sentence to interact with the fans.
“Can you guys hear everything I’m saying up there?” he asked the audience. “I didn’t even know that! This is just cool that they can hear me.”
The NFL distributed earpieces so the spectators could hear the players and coaches from the stands. Some spectators, including Giants fan Tony Janero, said they had a tough time deciding on a channel.
“The bad part is trying to pick some guy to listen to,” Janero said. “Then you hear everyone cheering because there is some other joke or something going on and you miss it. But it’s really cool to be able to do that.”
For Showalter and others, the event is a rare chance to be part of the Super Bowl without paying the hefty ticket price.
“This is our consolation for the Super Bowl. Get your program. Get your souvenirs. Get your everything, and absorb it while you can,” Showalter said after the event.
Media Day usually draws a serious crowd, but fans, players and reporters kept it fun and casual. Many reporters wore costumes, and some even asked players if they knew Jersey Shore cast members.