The Complete Super Bowl Experience
 
The Super Bowl is the USA’s premier sporting event, which is watched by huge multitudes of people every year.  A conclusion of the previous year’s National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) seasons, this final match decides which team earns the coveted championship title.  While many sporting finals are extravagantly celebrated in the USA and around the world, the Super Bowl has reached a very high level of prominence in the American calendar, with ‘Super Bowl Sunday’ being considered a de facto holiday by many.  Americans often go all out in their celebrations of the event, making it one of the most exciting and vibrant times for visitors to experience American culture.
 
Founded in 1966 as a merger between the rival NFL and AFL, the first Super Bowl helped both associations settle their animosity by pitting the champions of each against one another.  While the NFL is older and better established than the AFL, the current scores after 48 Super Bowl games are fairly close, making the annual match a thrilling and often unpredictable clash.  The two league conferences were at first considered to be grossly mismatched, however public perceptions shifted regarding the capability of the AFL’s teams following Super Bowl III, where the New York Jets achieved a spectacular victory against NFL favourites the Baltimore Colts.  The NFL currently lead with 26 Super Bowl wins to the AFL’s 22, but the AFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers have won six championship titles, more than any other team from either league. 
 
Super Bowl XLIX
 
Super Bowl XLIX will be the 49^th edition of the NFL championship event, scheduled to be held on 1 February 2015 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.  The stadium is home to the Arizona Cardinals, an NFL team who hold the distinction of being the oldest continuously run professional football club in the United States.  This marks the second time the Cardinals have hosted a Super Bowl game at the stadium, with a third Super Bowl having also been held at another stadium in Arizona’s Phoenix metropolitan area.  Although the 2014 NFL and AFL conferences are still ongoing and therefore the line-up for Super Bowl XLIX has not been decided, favourites for the championship match include defending champions the Seattle Seahawks, 2014 runners-up the Denver Broncos and five-time winners the San Francisco 49ers.
 
Although the game itself is the main appeal of the Super Bowl, many viewers are equally excited about the annual half-time show.  The games’ spectacular thirty-minute half-time display is one of the entertainment highlights of the American calendar, with legendary past performances coming from international music stars such as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Beyoncé.  While entertainment during the game’s half-time interval was traditionally provided by marching bands from local colleges, as the Super Bowl has matured it has continued to attract higher profile stars for exclusive performances.  Acts that have reportedly been approached for the 2015 Super Bowl half-time show include Coldplay, Rihanna and Katy Perry, meaning that a star-studded extravaganza is assured.
 
Phoenix, Arizona
 
Located just outside of Arizona’s state capital of Phoenix, Glendale is a small city which forms the north-west part of the Phoenix metropolitan area.  The area makes up the most populous state capital in the USA, and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, which is often referred to as the ‘Valley of the Sun’.  Built on land that was reclaimed from the Sonoran Desert by an extensive network of canals, the city is a sprawling oasis at the centre of North America’s iconic red sand wilderness.  For those who are indulging in an extended stay for Super Bowl season, there’s a great deal to do in this city known for its beautiful wilderness scenery and perpetual sunshine.
 
Many national parks and nature reserves surround the downtown Phoenix, including the city’s spectacular Botanical Gardens.  A range of water parks, outdoor pools and spa resorts are ideal for keeping cool in the city’s bold desert sun.  The Phoenix Open Golf Tournament is generally held on the same weekend as the Super Bowl, with the 2015 edition being held from Thursday 29 January until the 1 February.  Often referred to as “The Greatest Show on Grass”, it is the biggest tournament on the PGA Tour and is held at the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale, Arizona.  The two events are carefully organised so as not to clash, so this impressive display of professional golf can serve as a perfect warm up to the Super Bowl action.
 
The Complete Super Bowl Experience
 
While the Super Bowl main event is the biggest draw for many NFL fans, a whole multitude of side-events and other attractions are available for those who truly want to enjoy the complete Super Bowl experience.  One way for visitors to get more out of their Super Bowl experience is to purchase a premium ticket package.  Not only are these packages a convenient way to obtain excellent seats for the game and accommodation in a nearby luxury resort, but they often include exclusive extras that can really enhance a traveller’s enjoyment of Super Bowl XLIX.  These extras range from Super Bowl merchandise to incredible behind-the-scenes experiences including receptions with players and postgame tours of the iconic playing field.
 
In the week preceding the Super Bowl (starting on Saturday 26 January) the annual NFL Experience will take place in downtown Phoenix.  This continuous event includes a huge variety of NFL related attractions that revel in the buzzing atmosphere in the lead up to the big game.  The range of NFL Experience attractions include autograph sessions with more than 50 NFL stars, forums with some of American football’s biggest coaches offering an insight into the game and interactive skills competitions, where guests can learn more about professional gameplay techniques and try their hand at some signature NFL moves.  Although the NFL Experience is a family oriented event, on Thursday 31 January, an exclusive adults-only party named NFLX After Dark runs until midnight to allow visitors to enjoy more NFL-based attractions.
 
Accommodation
 
As Glendale and its surrounding area are part of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, finding accommodation for the Super Bowl is easy, with a wide range of hotels, apartments and condominiums available in and around the city.  Booking in advance is essential, as the demand for hotels at this time of the year will be extremely high, and it will be tougher to secure accommodation in Phoenix during Super Bowl season than it will be at any other time of the year.
 
The Royal Palms Resort and Spa is a luxury five star hotel situated in northern Phoenix just a short car ride from Glendale and the University of Phoenix Stadium.  Its range of beautifully decorated guest rooms, casitas and villas are ideal for visitors hoping to unwind after long days of excitement during Super Bowl XLIX.  Spacious villa suites offer guests the luxury of privacy, including large separate living rooms complete with gas-burning fireplaces, well-appointed master bedrooms with a king-sized wood panelled bed, and a master bathroom featuring an opulent bathtub.  A secluded patio area features a cosy outdoor fireplace and a serene water feature.  Guests can also take full advantage of the resort’s stunning facilities during their stay, which include a spectacular swimming pool and the indulgent ‘Alvadora’ spa.
 
Other luxuriant accommodation options in the area surrounding Glendale include the Hotel Palomar, a sumptuous boutique in the heart of downtown Phoenix that’s perfect for travellers who want to enjoy the city atmosphere of the state capital, and JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, a breath-taking option situated near Arizona’s picturesque desert wilderness.

Share this article: