THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE TAMPA BAY SUPER BOWL LV HOST COMMITTEE
APRIL 2020
First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone that has been and will be affected by the coronavirus. We could not be more grateful for all of the heroes that continue to courageously battle for our community and country on the frontlines during these unprecedented times. We also want to thank all of Team Tampa Bay for your commitment to social distancing. Every single person has a role to play every single day in helping win this fight. We’re looking forward to the time that we can all come back together to cheer on our favorite teams and enjoy all that sports have to offer. In the meantime, our organization remains focused on using our platforms to highlight those that are already aiding in the recovery like through our Super Bowl LV Virtual Game Ball Campaign, while also planning and preparing for Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium, which is quickly shaping up to be the most important Super Bowl of our lifetime. Long before this national crisis began to unfold, our excitement to partner with the NFL on our fifth Super Bowl was all about embracing and showcasing the spirit of Tampa Bay and leveraging the opportunity to progress and propel our community “Forward. Forever.” However, now more than ever, our “Forward. Forever.” mantra and mindset is taking on an even more powerful meaning. With Super Bowl LV quickly approaching in 10 months, please know that we are working with an unwavering sense of energy, excitement and urgency. We are also beyond grateful for technology…our team has embraced teleworking and the transition has been seamless and extremely successful. Our Business Connect Kick-Off event quickly transitioned from a formal gathering to a series of introductory virtual webinars, our in-person meetings were rescheduled to Zoom meetings and conference calls and our scheduled site visits have shifted to virtual tours. The NFL was originally scheduled to be in town this week for their first large production meeting and site visit and we have worked closely with the NFL and their team to host all scheduled meetings and walk-throughs on virtual platforms. We are also working remotely to assist the NFL, their partners and producers as they search for venues for their NFL sanctioned events. If anything, our community’s collective efforts have only intensified, because we recognize, and are motivated by, the responsibility we have in ensuring our fifth Super Bowl is our best one yet. It is no secret that hosting a Super Bowl has a huge economic impact, social impact and marketing exposure on a world-wide stage. All eyes will be on Tampa Bay in early February. We look forward to shining a light and showing to the world why our home town is so resilient and so special. Together, Super Bowl LV can propel us Forward. Forever. Stay safe and thanks for all that you do, Team Tampa Bay. Rob Higgins President/CEO Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee
IN THIS EDITION
Features 3 One-On-one with Katie Kicklighter
Get to know Katie Kicklighter, Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee’s Manager of Hospitality and Events.
5 Tampa Bay 55 Podcast
The Tampa Bay 55 podcast is your exclusive behind-the-scenes pass to all things Super Bowl and the journey leading up to the big game.
6 Getting involved
Your guide to becoming part of the #TampaBayLV team and movement.
7 Stepping up
The #TeamTampaBay community is stepping up in a BIG way. Learn how our community is coming together like never before.
9 In the Media
Discover what people are saying on social media about #TampaBayLV as well as #ShareTBLV!
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Our team is a passionate group of MVPs who are ready to propel the #TampaBayLV movement forward forever. “Together, we will focus on raising the bar for the fan experience in the region, implementing lasting legacy initiatives, showcasing the destination’s recent progress and exciting future, all while delivering a fifth world-class Super Bowl.” - Rob Higgins
Katie Kicklighter
Manager of Hospitality & Events
In her role with the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Katie Kicklighter will provide oversight and coordination of the Venue Allocation Program and assist with planning NFL sanctioned events. A graduate of the University of South Florida’s Vinik Sport and Entertainment Management Program, Kicklighter previously served as the Graduate Resident for the Tampa Bay Sports Commission where she worked primarily in events assisting with management, logistics, operations, marketing and promotions. Most recently, Kicklighter served as the Assistant Tournament Manager for the Tampa Bay Local Organizing Committee during the 2019 NCAA Women’s Final Four where she was instrumental in elevating the championship’s community and social impact initiatives while serving as the co-chair for the Read to the Final Four and Sustainability sub-committees. Prior to her time in Tampa Bay, Kicklighter was a collegiate swimmer at Colorado State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and minors in Global Environmental Sustainability and Sports Management. How has your past experience as a former student-athlete on the swim team at Colorado State University carried over into your roles with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and now Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee? Like special events, the preparation for student-athletes begins years in advance to make sure you’ve accounted for every detail when it comes time to compete. My student-athlete journey has been key in developing the work ethic and drive needed to be successful in both of these roles. I see training day in and day out for that one race as a direct comparison to the Sports Commission’s “Game Day, Every Day” motto. At CSU, I swam sprint freestyle where the difference between just being in that race and winning was often only hundredths of a second, so I know that pushing your limits in practice, can be what sets you apart in the end, and that’s the mindset I try to bring to my job as well. While attending the USF Vinik Sport and Entertainment Management Program, you fulfilled your fellowship with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and served as the Assistant Tournament Manager for the Tampa Bay Local Organizing Committee during the 2019 NCAA Women’s Final Four. What about that experience was transformative for you? Tampa is so successful as a host community because of its team mentality in rallying around major events. It was eye-opening to see the number of facets of event management that all interact and require consideration including everything from transportation, parking, security, marketing, etc. Women’s Final Four was 100 percent evidence of this and showcased the importance of collaboration to deliver the best possible experience for visitors and locals alike. At every turn, I was learning to assess decisions from other perspectives and make sure it worked from the ground up to the birds-eye view. 3 TOUCHDOWN TAMPA BAY
Having graduated with a minor in Global Environmental Sustainability and helping Tampa Bay achieve its first-ever major event “evergreen” certification in partnership with the Council for Responsible Sport during the 2019 NCAA Women’s Final Four, you have had a tremendous impact in helping elevate and implement sustainability initiatives since joining the TBSC team. Can you share or provide a “sneak peek” into some of the exciting green initiatives you are working on with the NFL in advance of Super Bowl LV? One of the most important aspects of hosting any major event is ensuring a positive impact is left behind on the host community. My background in sustainability allows me to look at the event planning process through a unique lens, so that we make decisions that consider the long-term effects and align with our goals. For example, we utilize the Riverwalk to create a walkable event footprint that encourages outdoor activity and limits transportation. Sustainability will also be one of the key pillars of our host committee’s legacy program and we plan to incorporate several social and environmental initiatives alongside the NFL Green team whose Super Bowl environmental program has five main initiatives: solid waste management, material reuse, food recovery, sports equipment and book donations, and greenhouse gas reduction. Our team will also work with many of our amazing community partners who are experts in the space including using TECO solar blocks to offset energy used during Host Committee events. As the Manager of Events and Hospitality for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, one of your primary responsibilities is managing the Venue Allocation Program. For readers at home, what is the Venue Allocation Program, how does it work and what is the host committee doing to elevate the experience for the NFL and their partners? Outside of the big game, Super Bowl LV will bring hundreds of ancillary events to our community. Part of my role is to make sure that these organizers find venues to host their events. The Venue Allocation Program is designed to help manage these requests and provide concierge service to the NFL in identifying the best locations to host their signature events based on their wish lists. We make recommendations based off capacity, layout, location, and many more criteria. We’ve also designed an online portal that showcases a directory of participating venues, photos of the space, and details relevant to the venue selection process in an effort not only to elevate the experience of the NFL and their partners, but to provide increased exposure for participating local venues to work directly with these entities. It is our goal to help create a unified front for the NFL and their partners, as well as make sure our community shines on this global stage like never before.
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The Tampa Bay 55 Podcast Long before the teams arrive at Raymond James Stadium, countless hours of work are dedicated to making the big game and the amazing spectacle that accompanies it an overwhelming success! Tampa Bay 55, a new podcast, is YOUR exclusive all-access behind-the-scenes pass, with the deal makers, hand shakers, celebrities, athletes and more. The podcast is hosted by Ryan Bass, anchor at 10News WTSP -- the CBS affiliated television station in the Tampa Bay area and Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and president/CEO of the Super Bowl LV Host Committee. They will be joined by special guests weekly as we countdown to the main event in the heart of Florida’s gorgeous west coast! New episodes will be released weekly. Super Bowl LV will be broadcast nationally on CBS.
WE WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS! CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOURS. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR DAILY #TAMPABAY55 TOP PLAYS ON TWITTER, @TAMPABAYLV! 5 TOUCHDOWN TAMPA BAY
New on the pod: Episode 12: » Rob Higgins and Ryan bass practice social distancing via zoom to give updates on sporting events in Tampa bay Episode 13: » Rondé Barber, Buccaneers legend » Devin white, Buccaneers linebacker and 2019 first-round draft pick Click the icon to listen!
Getting Involved BUSINESS CONNECT update All Business Connect applicants were notified mid-March of their official status in the program. The exciting news for the group of 235 accepted businesses was quickly followed up by an introductory webinar in late March, which provided a behind-the-scenes look on what the companies can expect over the next 11 months of the program. In addition, contractors were recently issued the Business Connect Resource Guide, which provides them with company overviews of the accepted vendors in addition to past projects, contact information and web addresses. This guide will be the springboard in allowing contractors to now reach out to directly to Business Connect vendors for an opportunity to obtain contract work for the NFL and their partners during Super Bowl LV. For more information on the Super Bowl LV Business Connect Program: LaKendria Robinson Director of Business Connect & Community Outreach Email: BusinessConnect@TampaBayLV.com
COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM ABOUT THE TAMPA BAY SUPER BOWL LV COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM: In 2021, the Super Bowl is set to return to the Tampa Bay community for the fifth time. As with all major events, the Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Tampa Bay Sports Commission and NFL will rely heavily on the volunteer and community support to help execute and elevate the overall event. This is your opportunity to assist with an incredible week of Super Bowl fun. A multitude of volunteer shifts will be available throughout the championship week. Please click to sign up and receive volunteer information and event updates. The official Super Bowl LV volunteer registration site will launch in the near future.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR INTEREST
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Stepping up Although these are trying times, creating elevated uncertainty, there is one thing that rings true through and through… kindness is contagious. To no surprise, members of the #TeamTampaBay community are stepping up and coming together like never before to help aid in the fight against COVID-19. In the world of sports, game balls are awarded to individuals that step up, get the job done and go above and beyond to help their team win. Over the past several weeks, we have seen unsung heroes and community MVP’s elevate their giving game with simple and awe-inspiring random acts of kindness. As a special thanks, we launched our SHARE THE LOVE Tampa Bay LV Virtual Game Ball campaign as a way to recognize and award these individuals and groups for all they are doing to help our community overcome adversity. “We continue to be in awe of the Team Tampa Bay hometown heroes that are stepping up to help push our community Forward. Forever. during this challenging time,” said CEO/President of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Rob Higgins. “We’re excited to help shine a light on their amazing efforts.” Tampa YMCA’s Veggie Van is continuing to travel throughout our community and assist those in need, giving out fruit and vegetable bags for free.
ABOVE: The Mask Project Tampa Bay is a massive movement assisting in collecting and distributing face masks and other essential items to medical personnel throughout our region. BELOW: Sister Lisa of the Academy of the Holy Names host virtual sewing lessons to teach students, faculty, alumni and staff how to make homemade masks to help support the local healthcare professionals in need.
University of South Florida’s College of Engineering and College of Medicine teamed up to manufacture 10,000 face shields for medical personnel at Tampa General Hospital.
TO LEARN ABOUT THE REST OF OUR TAMPA BAY LV GAME BALL RECIPIENTS, VISIT OUR TWITTER, @TAMPABAYLV!
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During these unprecedented times, members of #TeamTampaBay are coming together like never before to help raise up our community. Today, we are launching our virtual #TampaBayLV Game Ball campaign to recognize and honor the selfless individuals and organizations that are putting our community first. Game balls are traditionally given in sports to award MVP’s, great leadership or outstanding performances. Help us SHARE THE LOVE and deliver virtual game balls to deserving recipients by following us on social and by submitting nominations using our hashtag, #SHARETBLV, as we honor our hometown heroes for their generous acts of kindness.
How to nominate community MVP’s 1. Help identify individuals and organizations that are out helping by going above and beyond during these unprecedented times. 2. Share their story on Twitter and tag @TampaBayLV and #SHARETBLV, or... 3. Reply or comment to an already shared story by tagging @TampaBayLV and using #SHARETBLV.
In the Media See what people are saying about #TampaBayLV and #SHARETBLV on social media! Tag us and use the hashtag, #TampaBayLV, to show your support for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee. Maybe you could end up being showcased in TOUCHDOWN Tampa Bay, too!
Follow Our Flow @TAMPABAYLV
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