Super Bowl weekend finally arrives
Fans get the party started ahead of Sunday's big game
MIAMI, Fla. (KYMA, KECY/NBC News) - The players and coaches of the San Francisco 49'ers and Kansas City Chiefs won't take the field until Sunday night. That leaves football fans in Miami plenty of time to focus on fun.
NBC's Jay Gray has the story from the heart of the party.
"Run back spike it and give me a touch down dance.. "
It is "game day" in Miami..but not the game day.
The Chiefs and 49'ers are still getting in a little more work before they play. Crews are making sure the field and stadium are set. But fans aren't waiting until Sunday to kick off the party.
" We thought it was going to be a great experience -- really a bucket list so..." said fan Lynn O'Donnell
At the Super Bowl Experience, everyone gets to be a super star, or meet a super star. You can check out your favorite player's locker, or get some gear to put in your own.
There's even a behind-the-scenes look at the meticulous process of making the balls for the big game.
"The NFL game ball has 25 different processes that go into the ball - about 90% are done by hand." said Mike Kuehne, product manager for Wilson Team Sports.
Hands-on, and interactive is what fans seem to enjoy most about this part of Super Bowl week.
"They have added so much more fan interactions because you get to play and be way more involved in everything and get the perspective of the athlete." said one fan.
Even the perspective of a champion.
There are a lot of cool things to see and do in Miami. And a lot of people will be part of it all. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit this week.
