THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE TAMPA BAY SUPER BOWL LV HOST COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 2020
Team Tampa Bay, We are officially on the clock! As our community comes together in unprecedented ways to help deliver our best Super Bowl yet, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee serves as the direct liaison to the National Football League for the region’s collective hosting effort for Super Bowl LV. Our team will focus on raising the bar for the fan experience in the region, implementing lasting legacy initiatives, showcasing our destination’s recent progress and exciting future, all while delivering a fifth world-class Super Bowl. Tampa Bay will be ready to shine like never before! Welcome to TOUCHDOWN Tampa Bay, the official e-newsletter of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee. We could not be more excited to share with you our online newsletter that will afford you behind-the-scenes access throughout our host committee’s efforts. This first edition of TOUCHDOWN Tampa Bay will introduce you to our Super Bowl LV Host Committee staff, community partners, as well as our Host Committee Co-Chairmen, Derrick Brooks and Will Weatherford. The Super Bowl has something for everyone and there will be a ton of ways for you to get involved, whether that is through the Business Connect Program, the Community Ambassador Program or across social media outlets. We couldn’t be more excited to have you join us on this incredible journey over the next year, as we set sail for Super Bowl LV in February 2021! Sincerely,
Rob Higgins President/CEO Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee
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IN THIS EDITION
Features 3 Meet The Krewe
Get to know your Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee President/CEO, Rob Higgins, CoChairmen, Derrick Brooks and Will Weatherford, as well as the rest of the host committee roster and community partners.
5 One-On-One with our chairmen
Learn more about Derrick Brooks and Will Weatherford’s involvement with the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee and what sparked their interest to be a part of the team.
7 Getting involved
Your guide to becoming a part of the #TampaBayLV movement through participation in the Super Bowl LV Business Connect Program and our Community Ambassador Program.
9 On the Clock
Read about what took place at the National Football League’s Host Committee Handoff Press Conference the Monday after Super Bowl LIV in Miami.
10 Tampa Bay 55 Podcast
Tampa Bay 55, a new podcast, is your exclusive behind-the-scenes pass to all things Super Bowl and the journey leading up to the big game.
11 In the Media
Discover what people are saying on social media about #TampaBayLV!
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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
Derrick Brooks
Co-Chairman // defensive coordinator
Derrick Brooks is currently the EVP of Corporate and Community Development for Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment. Prior to his current role, Mr. 55, as we know him, was a linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 14 seasons, tallying up many awards over his tenure including nine-time All-Pro choice, named to the Pro Bowl 11 times and selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s. He was most recently named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team and has been enshrined into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Buccaneers Ring of Honor. His passion for education and inspiring our youth has influenced his charitable work in the community. Building a legacy is at the heart of his drive. He approaches life as the ultimate team game. As Co-Chairman for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Derrick will help lead our team in all areas of business relationships. In addition to these duties, he is equally excited to help spearhead the host committee’s social impact and Forever 55 legacy initiatives. Brooks will help guide the team that progresses the Tampa Bay region forward forever.
Will Weatherford
Co-Chairman // offensive coordinator
Will Weatherford is currently the managing partner for Weatherford Capital, a family owned private investment firm, after serving as the 84th Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2012-2014. Weatherford joined the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee as a way to continue serving our community and make a difference in the Tampa Bay region. Known as the youngest Speaker of the House in America during his tenure, Weatherford served in the Florida Legislature from 2006 – 2014 before being termed out of office. As Co-Chairman of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Weatherford’s leadership will be instrumental in garnering the support from Tampa Bay’s private sector. He is service driven and laser focused on bringing the community together to support the Tampa Bay region and show the world what our area has to offer. CLICK THE LINK TO MEET THE REST OF THE HOST COMMITTEE TEAM TAMPABAYLV.COM/ABOUT_US 3 TOUCHDOWN TAMPA BAY
Rob Higgins
President // Chief executive officer
Rob Higgins currently serves as the Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, whose mission is to create social and economic impact throughout the Tampa Bay region through sports and entertainment events. Higgins served on the bid and operations committee that successfully landed and hosted the 2009 Super Bowl. He was named to Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 30 under 30 list and Tampa Bay Times’ “Top 10 Difference Makers in the Tampa Bay Area.” Most recently, Higgins was named to the prestigious Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal “Forty Under 40,” while also being recognized as one of the most influential sports figureheads in the history of Tampa Bay by CBS Radio, one of the top-10 most influential people in Tampa Bay by WTSP 10 News, and Huffington Post listed Higgins one of the top-30 sports marketers in the world. As the leader of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Higgins will rely on his past experiences in addition to his invaluable relationships to help lead the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee.
A Community in partnership “Our community stakeholders coming together will serve as the backbone to the success of Super Bowl LV. ‘Together’ is the word that has made us so successful as a community and we are joining together in a movement that will steer us Forward ... Forever.” - Rob Higgins President/CEO of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee
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DERRICK BROOKS CO-CHAIRMAN What initially sparked your interest in wanting to help bring a Super Bowl to Tampa Bay? It started when we built our new stadium here in Tampa during my playing years. At the time, the league was awarding teams who built new stadiums with Super Bowls. It just dawned on me what a process it truly was and what goes on behind the scenes. I would say the person the sparked my interest the most initially was Lee Roy Selmon. I met with Mr. Selmon as he was in the midst of getting the football program going at USF. At that time, he was negotiating for the team to start playing in the stadium. We started having talks about these things and he asked me, “Why don’t you get involved? I think you would really be an asset to understanding what this process takes.” So, I started asking Mr. Malcolm Glazer questions whenever he was around about what it was like being in the room and what it would take to bring another one to Tampa. He just started sharing behind the scenes information with me that led to a multitude of conversations. These discussions influenced me to want to be a part of things that this city was involved with, not just the NFL. As my career has come full circle, I have had the opportunity to meet people like Rob Higgins along the way that have allowed me to be involved in the business side of what this city can do in terms of major events. Do you feel the same type of adrenaline rush helping bring a Super Bowl to Tampa Bay as you felt playing in one? It really is when you start to dive into the weeds of everything. Will Weatherford and I are not just figureheads of the Super Bowl coming here. That was one thing – if I had to say requirement that I had of Rob, was to really have me involved. With the skill set that I have, I wanted to not only be able to display it in a leadership role, but also in a serving role as well. That is the basis that I accepted this position on is knowing how important this was to our area, not just our city. From the time we started to bid on this knowing we were going against some giants such as Los Angeles with their new stadium to New Orleans and Miami, the typical ones that are at the table and get the bids. We were not shying away from those efforts and making sure we put our best foot forward. I knew I wanted to be involved in this effort to bring a Super Bowl here to Tampa. What is it like to work alongside CEO/President of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Rob Higgins? For the last two and a half years, I have had the privilege to see Rob up close and personal working through a plethora of events; Women’s Final Four, College Football Playoff, NHL All-Star game, Frozen Four, USF athletics to now planning WrestleMania and the Super Bowl. You name it, he has been a part of it. I’ve been fortunate enough to watch Rob go to work and be an ambassador for our region to make sure the world understands that we are capable of putting on a great event. You name it, Tampa can be a destination to host your event. Rob does it with a great sense of humility and that is why a lot of people pick up the phone when he calls. His work impacts a lot of individuals in a lot of areas and I am glad that he invited me to be a part of his team for the Super Bowl.
WILL WEATHERFORD CO-CHAIRMAN How did you get involved with the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee? I have always cared about serving and I do come from a football family. I played college football at Jacksonville University. I have six brothers, we all played college football at different levels. We are a football family and we understand the importance that sports can bring. When I ran for office, I enjoyed that public service, but when it was time to leave and I was term limited out in 2014, I wanted to stay engaged and what better way to serve your community and make a difference in your community than participating in the biggest event that takes place around the world and that is the Super Bowl, so I volunteered. As soon as I knew that Tampa Bay was going to be blessed with the opportunity to host this event again, I reached out to Rob and asked how I could help. How can I use my resources and my time and my relationships to bring value to this effort, so it has been a lot of fun. How important is it to get the businesses in the Tampa area rallying around Super Bowl LV? It is critical. It is a movement and in any movement, it requires people working together and moving in the right direction and we have such incredible organizations that saw this as a real value-add. We have a whole host of companies that are involved and seeing the value in what this can do, not just their company. I think that is one of the most impressive things that really struck me is that our team isn’t in it for just their company or for their organization, they are in it for our region. They see the benefit for Tampa Bay and the community and therefore, they want to step up and participate with volunteers, resources, aligning their brand with our brand, so that has been really fun. This is unable to happen without the private sectors and we are blessed to live in Tampa where they get it. In your eyes, what would a successful Super Bowl look like in our hometown? We are going to have hundreds of thousands of individuals come in, international press from around the world and two incredible teams in that game. I think we want people to walk away from this event talking about it being a world-class experience in a world-class city. We want to make sure from the minute their plane touches the ground or the minute they step foot in the Tampa Bay region, that everything they do and see and touch and participate in is world-class and that the experience is just overwhelmingly positive. We are giving people a flavor for our community and we want it to last. We want it to be a legacy. We want the Super Bowl impact to last beyond just the Super Bowl. We want it for years to come to have an impact in our community and our schools and for our families that live there. I am looking for that lasting impact, that feeling that people feel like they were a part of something special in a special place and that also, it continues to benefit the community for years going forward.
FOR MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCESS FROM OUR CHAIRMEN, TUNE INTO OUR TAMPA BAY 55 PODCAST. Episode 1: Derrick Brooks LINK: TAMPABAYLV.COM/PODCAST Episode 6: Will Weatherford TAMPABAYLV.COM 6
Getting Involved BUSINESS CONNECT
Meet LaKendria Robinson
Director of Business Connect & Community Outreach The Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee announced the addition of LaKendria Robinson as the Director of Business Connect & Community Outreach. In this role, Robinson will be responsible for identifying and connecting Tampa Bay’s diverse business landscape to contracting opportunities for Super Bowl LV. Previously, Robinson served as the first Director of Minority Business Accelerator & Economic Inclusion for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, where she spearheaded the Minority Business Accelerator to help minority-owned businesses grow and thrive in Tampa Bay. She was recently awarded the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives 2019 Forty Under 40 award for her meaningful involvement in the advancement of the Tampa Bay community and proven professional success in the chamber industry. Robinson earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Communications from Florida State University, as well as a master’s degree in Organizational Management & Leadership from Ashford University. ABOUT BUSINESS CONNECT: Business Connect is the NFL’s special event supplier diversity and inclusion program. In partnership with the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, the Super Bowl LV Business Connect program will work proactively to create opportunities for experienced, qualified and certified business owners from local, diverse communities to compete for contracting opportunities related to NFL signature events. In addition to contracting opportunities, the Business Connect program offers networking, educational and business development opportunities to encourage greater business success for each participant. The programming includes a Playbook Workshop series to help vendors prepare for participation in the Super Bowl bidding process and a professional development workshop series focused on new business strategies that help businesses to enhance and manage company growth. Networking opportunities bring together Business Connect vendors and procurement executives from leading local corporations. For more information on the Super Bowl LV Business Connect Program: LaKendria Robinson Director of Business Connect & Community Outreach Email: BusinessConnect@TampaBayLV.com 7 TOUCHDOWN TAMPA BAY
Robinson’s Recap: Since launching Business Connect in Tampa Bay at the beginning of November, over 1,200 diverse-owned businesses applied for the coveted 250+ spots allotted for the program. With the application deadline just recently coming to a close on February 14, 2020, the Business Connect team now carries the enormous responsibility of vetting these businesses for the opportunity to compete for contracts with the NFL and their partners leading up to and during Super Bowl LV. The host committee will hold a pitch day for many of the businesses that applied later this month, serving as the first step in the selection process for the Business Connect Program.
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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On the cl ck After the confetti fell and the Kansas City Chiefs hoisted the Lombardi Trophy into the air following a nail-biting comeback from a 10-point deficit in Super Bowl LIV, the responsibility of hosting the Super Bowl quickly turned over to Team Tampa Bay. After countless hours of preparation over the past several years and a week full of scouting down in Miami, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee capped off their work week with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Miami Host Committee at the handoff press conference. Many at-home viewers are familiar with the morning after media frenzy featuring the newly crowned Super Bowl champion-winning head coach followed by the Super Bowl MVP, but what many may not be aware of is the press conference that takes place just thirty minutes beforehand. This is the official moment when the past host committee passes off the honor, but also the enormous responsibility of bringing a topnotch Super Bowl experience to their respective community. Accompanied by an impressive supporting cast of Tampa Bay leaders in Mayor Jane Castor, Tampa Bay Buccaneers COO Brian Ford, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan and Host Committee CoChairmen Will Weatherford, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee’s Rob Higgins took to the podium to speak passionately about the anticipation surrounding Super Bowl LV as the area brings their fifth Super Bowl to the region. “There is only one team as excited as the Kansas City Chiefs this morning and that is Team Tampa Bay”, said CEO/President of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Rob Higgins. “This isn’t a bunch of host cities; this is a host community. This isn’t a host effort; this is a host movement and together, between the NFL family and Team Tampa Bay, we are going to come together like never before as one and deliver a truly incredible experience. Together, we are headed FORWARD. FOREVER.” 9 TOUCHDOWN TAMPA BAY
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. Listeners will go inside the planning meetings and hear firsthand from the people responsible for ensuring the event is a success. Our microphones will record the 55 weeks leading up to Super Bowl 55. They’ll be capturing not only what’s being done for NFL fans, but how organizers are giving back and making sure the spirit of Tampa Bay is showcased on the global stage. You’ll learn about that and other exclusive details right here on Tampa Bay 55! 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.
Click the icon to listen!
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In the Media See what people are saying about #TampaBayLV 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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