The Road to Super Bowl XLIX--Lists of Fun Facts

Hi there, sports fans! I hope those along the East Coast are staying warm, safe and dry. The countdown is just five days!

In lieu of writing about just one Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day today, I've been searching online for interesting lists of fun facts related to Super Sunday:

• CBS Sports provides a comprehensive match-up between key players for each team. Factors include interesting Super Bowl history, how the quarterbacks perform under pressure, teams pass rush, and the top cornerbacks and runners.
• ESPN.com provides a list of stats for both teams, as well as player rankings.
• Newsday.com has published the weather report for all 48 Super Bowl games to date.
• International Business Times has a list of unusual wagers for the big game.
• Forbes has published their "List of 49 Things You Need to Know About Super Bowl Not Related to Deflate-Gate."
• From the Las Vegas Sun, a list of 49 Super Bowl prop bets.
• Also from ESPN, a list of all the Super Bowl winners.
• From CBS Miami, a list of the 10 Worst Super Bowls
• Host a football movie marathon just before the game! From Netflix, here is a list of recommended films and documentaries.
• Finally, if you're lucky enough to have tickets to the game, here is a list of tips on getting into the stadium, along with a list of rules and events.

In other Super Bowl-related News:

• Deflate-Gate Update: Patriots' owner Robert Kraft demanded an apology from the NFL and claimed that the Patriots did nothing wrong. Expect the investigation to last several weeks.
• Today is Verizon Super Bowl Central, a family-free outdoor event in Downtown Phoenix. 
• Go Daddy is pulling its controversial ad featuring a lost puppy because of a backlash from animal lovers, advocates, the SPCA, and the Humane Society.

Now for the usual lists:

Party Idea of the Day: From Buffalo Chicken Meatballs to Nachos, Huffington Post has some slow cooker recipes that will feed your hungry Super Bowl party guests. The ribs look especially tasty!

Today's Birthdays: Ariel Winter (17), J. Cole (30), Elijah Wood (34), Nick Carter (35), Joey Fatone (38), Brandon Bush (42), Anthony Hamilton (44), Kathryn Morris (46), Rakim (47), DJ Muggs (47), Sam Phillips (53), Dave Sharp (56), Marthe Keller (70), and Alan Alda (79).

Holidaze: Celebrate your office culture with Have Fun at Work Day! Ways to boost work morale can include dining out with co-workers, organizing trips to sports events, or simply designating an hour for birthday celebrants.

If you have a high tolerance for noise, celebrate National Kazoo Day! The first kazoo was made in Alabama in the 1840s, and commercial production began in 1912. From a few years ago, here's a You Tube video featuring the world's largest kazoo band.

Finally, for the foodie in all of us, it's National Blueberry Pancake Day (yum!). Many local eateries will be serving this popular food today. 

For those interested in purchasing a Super Bowl party game from our shop, there's still time! We can accept orders as late as Saturday afternoon.

Have a PRINTASTIC day!

Kathy

The Road to Super Bowl XLIX--University of Phoenix Stadium Fun Facts

Good afternoon from snowy NYC! We are bracing for a "historic blizzard" that is supposed end all blizzards. My guess is that we'll probably get just a foot and not the three feet that was predicted.

It's just six days until the big game! Yes, we have some controversy going on with Deflate-gate. Bill Nye  the Science Guy explains why the team's footballs were slightly deflated in the Pats' AFC championship game against the Colts. Nye stated that Bill Belichick's explanation made no sense. Will the Patriots be disqualified from the Super Bowl? We'll know soon, I'm sure.

Meanwhile, we'd like to present some fun facts about the University of Phoenix Stadium:

• Opening Day: August 1, 2006 (following three years of construction).
• Tenants: Arizona Cardinals and the VIZIO Fiesta Bowl
• Number of seats: 63,400 (expandable to 72,200), If set in a straight line, they would stretch for about 18 miles.
• Luxury Seats: 88 luxury lofts, 7,400 Club Seats, and two Club Lounges. Perks include preferred parking, exclusive entrances, comfortable seating, multiple TVs, private restrooms and catering, etc. 
• Special Events: 160,000 square feet of exhibit space and 20,000 square feet of meeting room space
• Scoreboards: 2
• Public Restrooms: 77 (30 Men's, 35 Women's and 12 Family)
• Concession Stands: 47
• Number of Public Elevators: 10
• Number of Public Escalators: 18
• Number of Parking Spaces: 14,000 on site, 12,000 adjacent spaces nearby
• Cost to build the stadium: $455 million.  The amount of concrete used is equal to approximately 900 miles of sidewalk.
• Number of Employees: 2,600 on site for game days

A map of the original plans for the stadium appears below (courtesy of Mapperly.com)

As mentioned previously, the stadium has both a retractile roof that will give the stadium an open, airy feel even when it's closed. It has two 700-foot long trusses on each side and takes 15 minutes to open. A grass field rolls out of the stadium and sits outside, except for football and soccer games. The field ix 234 feet wide x 403 feet long and 39 inches tall.

The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee is sponsoring events all this week. Today is the 2015 WM Phoenix Open.

Today's Listmania:

Party Idea of the Day: Right before the Big Game, don't forget about Puppy Bowl XI on Animal Planet. This has become an event almost as popular as Super Sunday. 

Aren't they cute?

Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: This year, fans are expected to gamble about $119 million on the game. Casinos in Las Vegas are expected to reap in $18.9 million in profit. Later this week, I'll have more on unusual bets taking place.

Today's Birthdays: Colon O'Donoghue (34), Sara Rue (37), Paul Johansson (51, Andrew Ridgeley (52), Jazzie B (52), Ellen DeGeneres (57), Eddie Van Halen (60), Lucinda Williams (62), David Strahairn (66), Corky Lattig (67), Jean Knight (72), Scott Glenn (76), and Bob Uecker (80).

Holidaze: Today is National Spouses Day, a day put aside to be thankful for your relationship and the things you do for each other. Sometimes we take our spouses for granted, so show your appreciation on this day! 

Celebrate National Peanut Brittle Day by trying this recipe by the country singer Tricia Yearwood. This is another favorite snack of mine that's not good for the teeth, lol.

Finally, there is a special day set aside for Ellen DeGeneres, who celebrates her birthday today. Although this is an "unofficial" holiday, it is a National Day due to the overwhelming amount of requests and phone calls.

 

For those along the Northeastern corridor, please stay safe and dry!

Have a PRINTASTIC day!

Kathy