When New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes booted that memorable overtime field goal to send his team to the Super Bowl, the Giants and their fans were not the only ones celebrating. Corporate hospitality providers were in a festive mood as well.
While sports pundits loved the idea of a Green Bay/Brett Favre entry in the Super Bowl against the undefeated New England Patriots, the New York story brings with it much greater corporate interest than there would have been for a team like the Packers, whose season ended with Tynes’ 47-yard kick in the NFC Championship Game.
“The inclusion of a New York team means everyone’s hospitality needs are rocketed up a few levels,” said Gary Spitalnik, vice president of special projects at Marquis Jet, which expects more than 800 people at its functions this week in Arizona. “There’s just more people with more money making more demands on hospitality.”
Of course, all Super Bowls draw corporate interest. Companies use the Super Bowl and the week before the game both to entertain clients and for employee perks, no matter the teams. But this year’s matchup of two franchises in the corporation-rich Northeastern corridor has made the phones ring even more than usual at firms that arrange travel packages.
“The fact that the Giants got in, because of the New York market, you are going to see a lot more companies that might add on to what they were doing already,” said Robert Tuchman, president of TSE Sports & Entertainment.
Had the Packers made it, Tuchman said, about 30 percent of TSE’s roughly 1,000 tickets would have flowed to retail customers. Now, that figure will be only about 10 percent.
David Baldwin, who runs Octagon’s corporate hospitality business, remembers the 1997 and 1998 Super Bowls in New Orleans and San Diego, respectively. Green Bay played in those games, and the crowd was decidedly noncorporate, even with New England the opponent in the ’97 game.
While the Patriots’ run at a perfect season was already eliciting high demand for this year’s game, Baldwin said, the inclusion of the Giants helps stoke corporate interest. The same number of tickets to the game will sell no matter the teams. What changes is the demand for premium hotel rooms, transportation and VIP experiences.
Sharyn Outtrim, vice president of special events at PrimeSport, said that with New York making the Super Bowl, the calls are coming not just from the Big Apple, but also from New York-based companies’ satellite offices across the country.
PrimeSport has rented a pavilion across the street from University of Phoenix Stadium, site of the game, to entertain roughly 1,000 clients. It also is sending them this week to events such as the PGA Tour’s FBR Open in nearby Scottsdale, Ariz.
“The Super Bowl has always been a corporate event,” Tuchman said. But thinking of this year’s NFC representative, “For TSE,” he said, “it is better the Giants won.”
Staff writer Terry Lefton contributed to this report.
