I’m So Excited (Super Bowl Delighted – Part 1)

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Super Bowl LVI pin

If I were living the dream, I’d be a dual-role superstar shortstop/closer for the LA Dodgers. But since I’m not, I’ll have to settle for working at some popular sports venues. I’ve had the pleasure of working at Sofi Stadium for the Rams and Chargers games this past season and I was so incredibly happy that the Rams defeated the 49ers to earn a berth in Super Bowl LVI. During the game I was so happy when the Rams took a 7-0 lead in the first half.

Rams set up for the extra point after scoring first
Rams set up for the extra point after scoring first

Then I was really stressing when the 49ers took a 17-7 lead in the second half. But the Rams rallied and came up with huge plays to win it 20-17. I was ecstatic that the Rams had advanced to the Super Bowl and couldn’t wait for Super Bowl Sunday. I so needed a Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl win.

But even before this NFC Championship Game, preparations were being made to get Sofi Stadium Super Bowl-ready.

Stage equipment at the Sofi Stadium parking lot
Stage equipment at the Sofi Stadium parking lot
Super Bowl LVI motif
Can you see the LVI (backwards) on the edge of the Sofi Stadium lake?
Can you see the LVI (backwards) on the edge of the Sofi Stadium lake?

So during the two weeks before Super Bowl LVI, the LA/Inglewood area was really gearing up for the Big Game with banners seemingly everywhere.

Banners on Inglewood's street lamps
Banners on Inglewood's street lamps
View of part of the LA Convention Center, home of the NFL's Super Bowl Experience
View of part of the LA Convention Center, home of the NFL's Super Bowl Experience

My Sofi Stadium employer had some of us working the NFL’s Super Bowl Experience. All of us staff people had to go to pick up our Super Bowl credential at a hotel near Sofi Stadium. Here’s what greeted us as we entered the hotel:

More Super Bowl LVI motif at an LA-area hotel
More Super Bowl LVI motif at an LA-area hotel

Even the local supermarkets had some kind of Super Bowl display (with the assistance of prominent Super Bowl sponsors).

Supermarket Super Bowl LVI display

Now I’m not a beer enthusiast, but I would really like to have that Sofi Stadium cardboard display and the neon sign for the Stadium Fantasium mancave. That neon sign would look pretty good next to my Coors Light/Rose Bowl neon sign.

So we spent a couple of days setting up for our part of the NFL Super Bowl Experience at the Los Angeles Convention Center before it opened to the public on Saturday, Feb. 5th. It featured lots of games, exhibits, autograph signings, photo opportunities and tons of merchandise.

My Coor Light/Rose Bowl neon sign
My Coor Light/Rose Bowl neon sign
NFL's Super Bowl Experience at the LA Convention Center
NFL's Super Bowl Experience at the LA Convention Center
Fun ahead...
Fun ahead...
Part of the Chronology of Pro Football exhibit
Part of the Chronology of Pro Football exhibit
More of the Chronology of Pro Football exhibit
More of the Chronology of Pro Football exhibit
Highlights of classic NFL games
Highlights of classic NFL games (some of you may know this one)
Super Bowl LVI apparel
Super Bowl LVI apparel
More Super Bowl LVI apparel
More Super Bowl LVI apparel
And more Super Bowl LVI apparel
And more Super Bowl LVI apparel
Yet more Super Bowl LVI apparel
Yet more Super Bowl LVI apparel
Super Bowl LVI merchandise
Super Bowl LVI merchandise
More Super Bowl LVI merchandise
More Super Bowl LVI merchandise
Still more Super Bowl LVI merchandise
Still more Super Bowl LVI merchandise
And still more Super Bowl LVI merchandise
And still more Super Bowl LVI merchandise
Even more Super Bowl LVI merchandise
Even more Super Bowl LVI merchandise
Yet even more Super Bowl LVI merchandise
Super Bowl LVI merchandise
Cuddly NFL teddy bears
Cuddly teddy bear football players
Cuddly teddy bear football players
Super Bowl-logoed footballs
Super Bowl-logoed footballs
Football helmets
Football helmets
Autographed football cards
Autographed football cards
More autographed football cards
More autographed football cards
Still more autographed football cards
Still more autographed football cards

Although Panini had a major presence at the Super Bowl Experience, packs of football cards were not available for sale with the Super Bowl merchandise. I think that was a missed opportunity.

Speaking of cards, here’s a few that I got from an eBay seller in January…

1970 Topps Football #'s 57,83, 100, 190, 239
1970 Topps Football #'s 57,83, 100, 190, 239
1970 Topps Baseball #'s 123, 158, 211, 315, 440
1970 Topps Baseball #'s 123, 158, 211, 315, 440

These cards put a good dent in my setbuilds of 1970 Topps Football (about 90% complete) and Baseball (about 91% complete).

The original plan was to post this a couple of days before the Super Bowl. Working kept me from posting this on time but here it is now. I know my posts tend to be a bit long, including this one so I’ll end this one here. My next post will show more of the Super Bowl Experience attractions and the Super Bowl itself. Stay tuned…

BBCARDZ License Plate

Author: BBCARDZ

4 thoughts on “I’m So Excited (Super Bowl Delighted – Part 1)”

  1. Very cool. I interviewed some Rams fans way out here in the Northeast and one family hopes to finally make it out to Sofi Stadium next season.

    Funny that you’re a lot closer to finishing the 1970 baseball set than I am but I have all those cards you picked up!

    Reply

  2. It looks like you had a great view of the field. Is it common for stadiums to have a lake? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that before. And that was an awful lot of merchandise! I can’t imagine some of that stuff ever selling, no matter how cheap it got.

    Reply

    1. I don’t think it’s common for stadiums to have lakes. After all, they take up valuable parking lot space, especially when it’s a man-made lake like Sofi’s.

      Reply

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