Preparing for the Super Bowl: Houston-Style

This year, Houston is fortunate enough to be the host of the Super Bowl! Although we don’t yet know who will be playing, we can look forward to the tailgating, fans and general excitement coming up in our city. 

While it may seem annoying that within a month, thousands of out-of-towners will flock to Houston for a game that the Texans won’t be playing in (sob . . .), the fact that the Super Bowl is in Houston is great for our city!

Chris Brehm, a junior at Rice University, talked about how exciting it would be to have a Texas team playing in Texas. Even though that’s now not the case, with both the Cowboys and the Texas out of the running, the Super Bowl provides great press for Houston, and in a touristy way, brings a bunch of people to Houston that may not have gone before. According to Hasting Stewart, executive vice president of public affairs for the Super Bowl, Houston is a great place to host the game because it is “a city that not only can-do, [but] does.” He said that a great deal has changed in our city since the last time we hosted the game in 2004 and that “Super Bowl LI provides us with an opportunity to showcase what Houston has to offer to the world!” 

Although we have less than a month before the Super Bowl, Stewart explains that the best way we Houstonians can prepare is by getting excited and participating in all the Super Bowl-related activities. “We hope Houstonians will come out to participate in the activities happening in Downtown Houston in the days leading up to the Super Bowl LI,” he says. “From the opening of Super Bowl LIVE, the free fan experience, to NFL Opening Night at Minute Maid Park, to the NFL Experience at the George R. Brown Convention Center, there will be numerous opportunities for Houstonians to participate in the fun!” Jahid Adam, another Rice University junior, says he is most excited for “the free concerts and possible celebrity sightings!” Lady Gaga is playing the Super Bowl halftime show, so maybe we will be able to see her around town. 

Native Houstonian and Spring Branch resident Adam Kassir explains the hype for the Super Bowl: “It’s a great American tradition and puts Houston in the spotlight. It seems like people forget about Houston sometimes, but now Houston will be the focus of everyone.” The Super Bowl is a great opportunity for Houston to show the rest of the world what we’re made of: good food, nice people and sports fanatics! No matter who is playing, support the Super Bowl by attending the related concerts and events. 

Interested in renting out your home for the Super Bowl? See this article by Tracy L. Barnett. Plus, see Dai Huynh’s list of new restaurant openings in time for the big game.