THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE TAMPA BAY SUPER BOWL LV HOST COMMITTEE
January 2021
IN THIS EDITION
Features 3 Experience Super Bowl Week
We have you covered, including everything from Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s information, NFL OnePass, our “Know Before You Go” guide, and more.
5 Meet The Krewe
Get to know Brooke Skelley, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee.
7 Team Tampa Bay’s Take
Ernest Hooper, Director of Communications for American Cancer Society’s Southwest Florida Chapter, describes the impact our legacy initiative will have on our community.
9 Teaming up for Forever 55
Game On. The Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee launches the Health & Wellness Program in partnership with the Tampa Bay Buccanneers and the systemic justice pillar.
11 Tampa Bay 55 Podcast
See the new guests that have made virtual appearances on the Tampa Bay 55 podcast.
12 CRUCIAL CATCH SUPER BOWL LV EXPERIENCE SWEEPSTAKES Help save lives from cancer and win the Super Bowl trip of a lifetime! The American Cancer Society and the NFL want to send you to the Super Bowl!
13 In the media
Discover what people are saying on social media about #TampaBayLV!
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Celebrate Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay! Fans have the opportunity to attend Super Bowl Experience, the NFL and Host Committee’s joint interactive football theme park as Super Bowl LV touches down in Tampa. SBX - the Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s – NFL’s interactive football theme park –will return to Tampa for Super Bowl LV from Friday, January 29 – Sunday, January 31 and from Wednesday, February 3 – Saturday, February 6 along the Tampa Riverwalk. To celebrate the history of the NFL, Super Bowl Experience will offer fans the opportunity virtually meet & greet with current NFL players and Legends, participate in games, and shop merchandise from NFL Shop presented by Visa. Super Bowl Experience will also feature photos with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, a 40-yard dash and vertical jump against NFL players on LED screens, and a Super Bowl rings display showcasing all 54 Super Bowl rings! Fans can attend Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s FREE every day. Get this special NFL Experience. For more information and hours of operation, visit SuperBowl.com. For entrance to Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s, fans will need to register for the NFL OnePass app and book a session time. Additionally, fans should bring their favorite face covering and prepare to maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from others. For more information on Health & Safety protocols, see here. To reserve your SBX session time, download the NFL OnePass app at www.NFL.com/ OnePass. If the session date/time that you are looking for is not available, there will be a standby queue available for walk-up fans at Julian B. Lane, but fans will still need OnePass to access. Please note that there is limited capacity to Super Bowl Experience, so entry is not guaranteed. For fans without a smartphone, Technology Managers will be at the exterior of Julian B. Lane to assist.
welcome to tampa bay!
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO As we prepare to host our fifth Super Bowl, we want to provide guests with all of the necessary information to make each experience at Super Bowl LV safe, fun, and memorable! A plethora of safe, fun, and memorable experiences await you in Tampa Bay. Be sure to visit each of our “Know Before You Go” sections to make your visit to our hometown as seamless and accessible as possible. Super Bowl Experience Presented By Lowe’s is set to open to the public on January 29, 2021, at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Curtis Hixon Park and Technology Village, but all roads lead to Super Bowl LV which will be played at Raymond James Stadium on February 7, 2021. While things will look a little different this year, we’re committed to delivering the ultimate fan experience in the safest way possible. For more information on health & safety, please check out the Fan Gameday Playbook. Download and Register the NFL OnePass app at NFL.com/OnePass for the most up-to-date Super Bowl LV news, including all event information, a virtual concierge, access to awesome games and activations, and a chance to win prizes! For further information regarding Super Bowl LV, please SuperBowl.com.
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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 worldclass Super Bowl.” - Rob Higgins
Brooke Skelley
Director of Marketing & Communications
In this role, she is responsible for the production and distribution of committee messaging as well as the lead contact for several NFL executives, television network leads, and media partners. A graduate of Clemson University’s Communication Studies Program, Skelley worked as an intern for the Clemson Athletic Department during her senior year after spending the previous summer working in Los Angeles as a public relations intern for one of the top consulting agencies in the film and entertainment industry, Lisa Taback Consulting. After graduation, Brooke spent five seasons on the team side of the NFL as a member of the public relations staff for the Carolina Panthers followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over the course of her career in the NFL, her responsibilities included assisting the media by facilitating interviews for players and coaches to handling all accreditation for media outlets, visiting team and production crews for both home and away games. She also assisted with press release messaging for both corporate partnerships and community outreach. Brooke looks forward to continuing to expand upon her knowledge and familiarity with the Tampa Bay community in her role with the host committee. During her time with the Buccaneers, she worked closely with many community leaders and both local and national media to promote and bring awareness to not only what was happening on the field, but in the community as well, and she looks forward to continuing to do so on the way to Tampa Bay’s fifth Super Bowl. In your role as the Director of Marketing & Communications for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, what are some of your primary responsibilities? All of us at the Host Committee overlap into different lanes. Still, my main responsibility is handling the production and distribution of Host Committee messaging, scheduling media availabilities for our team members, and playing a big part in the production of our weekly Tampa Bay 55 podcast episodes and our monthly newsletters. As we prepare for Super Bowl, I have played a large role in making sure Host Committee members and vendors receive credentials for their appropriate access zones for game week. I will also play a large role in the execution of the Social Media Command Center space. You mentioned the Social Media Command Center. For those unfamiliar, what is this place, and how will it function during Super Bowl week? The Social Media Command Center (SMCC) is a space that the Host Committee produces each year to ensure all fans and visitors attending events and activations in the area have a quick option to receive answers to any questions they may have. Although most questions will be answered via the NFL’s OnePass App, any questions sent into the Host Committee social channels will be answered by the volunteers in this space. We are fortunate to have many of our local organizations participating in the space, including Visit Tampa Bay, USF’s Vinik Sports Management Program, UT’s Sports Management program, and members from Tampa’s PRSA chapter. For individuals with questions during game week, please reach out directly to our social channels or ask your questions using the hashtag #SBQuestions. 5 TAMPABAYLV.COM
After spending five seasons working on the team side of the NFL as a member of the public relations staff for two organizations, what made you want to take on a new role with the Super Bowl LV Host Committee? During my first year in Tampa, my alma mater, Clemson University, played in the College Football Playoff here in Raymond James Stadium. I was blown away by the preparation leading up to the championship game, with events taking place along the Riverwalk, from a threeday concert festival at Curtis Hixon Park to skyscrapersized projections on buildings downtown, all capped off by a big win in Ray Jay for the Tigers. CFP was so thoughtfully executed the entire week, and it opened my eyes to the role and first-class level of expertise the Tampa Bay Sports Commission exudes. Since the game, I made sure to keep up with what events were coming to town and followed along on coverage and plans. When the opportunity presented itself to make a move, I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity. The past 15 months have been life-changing, and I feel incredibly blessed to learn from the talented group that makes up the Sports Commission daily. What is your greatest accomplishment over the past 15 months with the Host Committee? I am incredibly proud of the way our team has been able to assess the current state of the world and pivot to ensure that we still execute at the highest level possible. Whether that is by shifting our in-person podcast to a virtual format each week or successfully completing a virtual press conference with over 150 media members in attendance in August for the launch of the Super Bowl Experience Presented by Lowe’s and our social legacy Initiative, Forever 55, our team has stepped up to the occasion. We have been forced to expand our skillsets and step out of our comfort zones and will forever be stronger because of it. In many ways, we are creating the “playbook” on planning an event given the restrictions put into place because of the pandemic, and I feel proud to be a part of the group leading the charge. Your fiancé is Cameron Brate, a tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the Bucs advancing to the NFC Championship, they have a legitimate chance at making history here in Tampa Bay. What would that mean to you personally? It is hard for me to put into words the emotions I have been trying to process this season, and more specifically, the past couple weeks in the playoffs. For me, being a part of the planning process in this area I am lucky enough to call home is overwhelming on its own, but for there to be the potential for my fiancé to also take place in this game takes it to the next level. There would be nothing more than I would love to see than our very own Tampa Bay Buccaneers play in the Super Bowl here in Raymond James Stadium. I would love this for our amazing fan base, the Glazer family, and all the coaches and staff that have put their whole hearts into making this season happen against all odds. Cameron has been in Tampa for his entire seven-year NFL career, minus a 5-day stint with the Saints, so I know he wants nothing more than to bring the Lombardi home for the Bucs.
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Team Tampa Bay’s take By: Ernest Hooper Director of Communications, American Cancer Society’s SW FL Chapter @hoop4you // @AmericanCancer
Teaming up to make an impact The scenes will live on in perpetuity. Unforgettable. Indelible. Remarkable. It’s Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes, outdueling three defenders in the corner of the end zone to snare a game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLIII. It’s Trent Dilfer, the erstwhile Bucs quarterback, returning to his first professional home to help the Baltimore Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XXXV. It’s Whitney Houston, in the wake of Operation Desert Storm, uniting the nation with the most stirring National Anthem performance in Super Bowl history before the New York Giants stunned the Buffalo Bills. It’s the Raiders’ Marcus Allen, reversing field and “running with the night,” as famed NFL Films announcer John Facenda once intoned, to help the Los Angeles Raiders win Super Bowl XVIII. It’s the glorious history of Tampa Bay’s role as Super Bowl host, and in each instance, the determination, diligence, and dedication of this community set the stage for those memorable performances. Civic leaders, elected officials, devoted staff, and an army of volunteers all produced the behind-the-scenes work that elevated Tampa Bay and created opportunities for those stars to etch their names in sports history. Now, as the nation grapples with a once-in-100-year global pandemic, we look to this community to replicate Allen’s greatness, reverse the field against a swarm of challenges, and once again lay the groundwork for these incredible performers to shine before the world. Tampa Bay will score in 2021, just as Allen did in that 1984 Super Bowl, Tampa Bay’s first as a host city. Back then, this community clamored for the opportunity, pleading with the NFL to give it a chance to show off its scenic vistas, historic sites, and attractive lifestyle. It longed to wrap the world in its unique brand of hospitality and prove it was indeed America’s Next Great City.
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Now, its reputation as an international city solidified, the league calls on Tampa Bay. When construction delays created concerns about Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium serving as host of Super Bowl LV, league officials didn’t hesitate to reach out to Tampa Bay Sports Commission CEO Rob Higgins. But the world wonders: Can Tampa Bay host a reimagined Super Bowl? Really? What can’t Tampa Bay host? Reimagined? This region was built on a reimagined vision. As a resident for more than 30 years, I’ve watched the community roll out the red carpet for every event imaginable, from sports championships to major conventions to international award shows. This is what Tampa Bay does. In other cities, the biggest gatherings can be treated as just another event. Here, it’s embraced by legions as another chance to shine for the world. No other community rallies to the cause like Tampa Bay, a place I affectionately call the biggest small town in America. It’s that small-town care that will help the community christen another successful Super Bowl, and it’s that small-town care that has helped the American Cancer Society pivot since COVID-19 invaded our lives last March. ACS, a long-time NFL partner, welcomes the chance to partake in the game’s Forever 55 social legacy initiative. It’s one way we can thank those who helped us weather this latest storm. ACS needed a team to help us rise above the tumultuous waves of 2020. We needed them to do more, give more and be more. Our board members, our volunteers, even our courageous survivors -- who endured an uncommon cancer journey -- didn’t blink, didn’t flinch. They rose to the challenge and helped us take on the rising tide of the pandemic, the swirling changes of the nation’s new social justice movement, and a downturn in both resources and donations brought on by economic uncertainty. They helped us shift in-person events to virtual celebrations, connect in new ways and continue our mission to save lives, celebrate lives, and move towards a world without cancer. In short, they lifted us up. Now, our Forever 55 partnership with the NFL and the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee will connect with two of the initiatives’ six pillars -- families, and health and wellness -- and help us give lift to those most in need. The Host Committee’s funding of our ACS/NFL CHANGE grants will help Tampa Family Health Centers and the Community Health Centers of Pinellas extend critical cancer screening measures and eliminate barriers to treatment for at-risk families. The lifesaving donation to the Tampa Hope Lodge program will help those living in Tampa Bay Counties who are impacted by cancer, but lack the resources to fight it. The vital service, which had been temporarily sidelined due to the pandemic, will restart later this year when it is medically safe to do so. Beyond the American Cancer Society, the host committee’s initiative will touch other critical pillars: early childhood learning, food insecurity, sustainability, and systemic justice. Each effort will enhance the community. Each will serve as a heaping helping of gratitude to the people of Tampa Bay, those who so often have blended their small-town charm with big-city can-do to stage another Super Bowl. And that gratitude, the legacy created by these initiatives, will live on in perpetuity. Unforgettable. Indelible. Remarkable. This is what Tampa Bay does.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Forever 55 The Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee Launches Health and Wellness Program alongside the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Systemic Justice Pillar Since August, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee has unveiled a series of community-focused initiatives that comprise its legacy program, Forever 55. Part of a $2 million joint investment by the Host Committee and the NFL, Forever 55 focuses on six key areas: Food Insecurity, Sustainability, Families and Early Childhood Education, Health and Wellness, and Systemic Justice. While each pillar reflects different areas of community need, they are united under a singular commitment of championing efforts that bridge equity gaps, lay the foundation for improved lives, and influence long-lasting transformative change. The Forever 55 Health and Wellness Program is a comprehensive effort to support the physical, social and emotional health of children in the East Tampa community. The long-term program will be carried out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers players and staff, in collaboration with Hillsborough County Public Schools and the City of Tampa, and deliver a wide range of resources that build students for future success. Students’ physical fitness goals will be supported through virtual and in-person instruction, the donation of Buccaneers fitness equipment, monthly instructional videos featuring players and mascot Captain Fear, and incentive prizes to encourage maximum effort and behavior in school. Wellness support will also extend to ensuring healthy eyesight for local youth, as one in four children are affected by vision impairment and one in five children cannot afford eye care. East Tampa students will receive free vision screenings and prescription glasses through the Glazer Vision Foundation’s Mobile Vision Clinic. Finally, 9 TAMPABAYLV.COM
the team’s Youth Leadership Program, a first-of-its-kind commitment to provide mentorship to students at Young Middle Magnet School, connects players and staff with 25 students at the Title I school. The team hosts group workshops that tackle social and emotional development and empower mentees to become leaders in their school and community. Longterm, students will be able to carry on positive health practices inside and outside of the classrooms, creating a lifestyle that will benefit them for many years to come. Forever 55’s Systemic Justice pillar aims to address racial inequities and drive social transformation in Tampa Bay. Systemic racism is the root cause of disparities in many “success indicators,” including wealth, the criminal justice system, employment, housing, healthcare, politics, and education. To address inequities, a 25-member committee representing civic and community leaders collaborated to develop comprehensive programs on community policing, financial literacy, and a six-part series of empowering community conversations called Huddle for Change. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the program hosted its first Huddle for Change. A partnership between the Host Committee, NFL Inspire Change, Community Tampa Bay, and the University of South Florida, the program welcomed community members and local leaders to participate in an open and honest discussion. The dialogue centered around critical topics such as the wealth gap, mental health, physical well-being, community policing, education and ultimately inspire and positively affect change on a local level. In partnership with the United Way Suncoast and PNC Bank, the Systemic Justice initiative also introduced a comprehensive financial literacy program to eliminate opportunity barriers in disadvantaged communities. Program participants will receive training, support services, resources, and access to match funding to meet their financial goals while learning essential savings and investing strategies. Finally, the Community Policing initiative aims to build a collaborative environment between youth and law enforcement, particularly those in Black and Brown communities. As part of the program, Derrick Brooks Charities will host CPR (Community-Police Relationship) events focused on bridging gaps, improving communication, and fostering relationships. The activities will be education and awareness driven, seeking to foster foundational conversations that help develop a framework for building trust. On sport’s grandest stage exists the capacity to inspire hope and affect change. This year, that opportunity is more powerful than ever. Through Forever 55, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, the NFL and its partners ensure that Super Bowl LV’s impact extends well beyond gameday, moving the community “Forward. Forever. Together.”
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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 10 Tampa Bay, 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.
New on the pod:
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Episode 49: » THOMAS MANTZ, President & CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay Episode 50: » JOHN COURIS, President & CEO of Tampa General Hospital Episode 51: » DIANNE JAcOB, SENIOR VP of Client & Community Relations AT PNC Bank » KIM CHRISTINE, Administrator, Corporate and Community Health & Wellness at Tampa General Hospital Episode 52: » Tim Marks, President & CEO of Metropolitan ministries » Trey Brady, Race director of the Run for us 5k, Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival » Monica Rider, Chief medical officer for Tampa Family Health Centers » Dr. Katina Bonaparte, Family Medicine Doctor with community health centers of pinellas Episode 53: » Brian Murphy, Founder and CEO of Reliaquest » Ray Horal, co-owner of gameday vodka » ernest hooper, communications Director for southwest florida american cancer society » karla guzman-mims, corporate social responsibility manager at the mosaic company
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CRUCIAL CATCH SUPER BOWL LV EXPERIENCE SWEEPSTAKES Help save lives from cancer and win the Super Bowl trip of a lifetime! The American Cancer Society and the NFL want to send you to the Super Bowl!
DONATE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE FOLLOWING: • 2 TICKETS TO SUPER BOWL LV • ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE AND HOTEL INCLUDED • WALTER PAYTON MAN OF THE YEAR MULTI-SIGNED REVOLUTION HELMET (SIGNATURES INCLUDE DREW BREES, PEYTON MANNING, JOE GREENE, DAN MARINO, ROGER STAUBACH AND MORE) SIGNED BY OVER 27 PLAYERS
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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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