In Seattle, Geoff Baker reports four trucks with a "nearly 13-foot-high billboard on the back" that read "55 Abuse Cases Unanswered," along with a #GoodellMustGo hashtag were seen driving through the streets surrounding Super Bowl festivities in downtown Phoenix on Thursday. The trucks were "circling the hotel, convention and airport areas" as advocacy group UltraViolet "launched a media blitz criticizing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for not doing enough to address domestic violence by league players." The group "also took out five-figure advertisements" with SI and The Huffington Post (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/30).
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Bud Light's House of Whatever will be open to
selected winners during four sessions |
ICE COLD BEER, HERE: In Phoenix, Bill Goodykoontz notes Bud Light's House of Whatever "was open Thursday for a media tour, before it opens for four sessions -- one Friday, two Saturday and one Sunday." It is the first time Bud Light "has created a House of Whatever," which "covers 70,000 square feet in downtown Phoenix." Bud Light also "bought out Palomar Hotel Phoenix at CityScape, across the street from the House of Whatever." Bud Light "selected 4,000 winners" who "can attend as many party sessions as they like" (
ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/30).
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES: The GLOBE & MAIL's David Ebner noted Seattle-based Jones Soda Co., located across the street from CenturyLink Field, is "taking full advantage" of the Seahawks' trip to the Super Bowl. The brand has "produced a special run of blue-and-green 12th Man bottles," and this week has "dispatched the company RV, flying a 12th Man flag, to the Super Bowl in Arizona for some guerrilla marketing." The creative efforts are "part of a plan to re-energize the once-booming company as it works through years of difficult rebuilding after its business crashed" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/29).
EYES & EARS: USA TODAY's Christine Brennan wrote the NFL "just had its worst year ever -- and it looks as if the Olympics have come to town." Brennan: "Walk around downtown Phoenix and the street-fair celebration looks remarkably similar" to that of Salt Lake City in '02 or Vancouver in '10 (USA TODAY, 1/29). SPORTS ON EARTH's Will Leitch wrote downtown Phoenix is like living "in an NFL fantasy land where everything is wonderful and perfect, and all that matters is The Shield." Phoenix has "given itself over to the NFL, and it's basically NFL Disneyland." Leitch: "Maybe GQ thinks the NFL has had a 'season from Hell,' but the fans that have flocked to Phoenix certainly don't think so" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 1/28). In Seattle, Jack Broom writes Seahawks fans "are easy to spot at 'Super Bowl Central,' a downtown Phoenix event that’s part street fair, part exposition and part Mardi Gras," but Patriots jerseys "have been much harder to spot" (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/30). In Phoenix, Caitlin McGlade noted the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee was “looking for a ‘wow’ factor that screamed Arizona,” and settled on a 30-foot replica of a South Rim cliff wall in downtown Phoenix. The organizers “sought a ‘Grand Canyon Experience’ that everyone could defeat, so that beginners could make it to the top and experienced climbers could find a decent challenge” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/28).
