SuperBowl 2010

I'm not going to post much about this event, as most of my friends have heard about it straight from the horse!  Here are some things about Superbowl 2010 and my involvement that you may not know.  First of all, it was the most incredible experience of my life!  Rehearsals were grueling, with as much time spent waiting around as pushing the one ton + steel carts into position and parking them again.  We usually assembled the stage three times each rehearsal.

THIS IS THE SCHEMATIC AND THE ACTUAL SCALE MODEL OF THE STAGE. WE DIDN'T SEE THIS UNTIL DRESS REHEARSAL

The very first rehearsal focused on teamwork and maneuvering the carts around the field that was set up outside the stadium.  Then, we put the stage together and took it down three times each rehearsal.  The first time we put it together, it took 20 minutes.  By the 4th rehearsal, we had narrowed the time down to 9 minutes.  We had also become experts in WAITING.
 
Then...catastrophe.  During the first rehearsal of the night, we heard a crash and one of the carts that was actually carrying the band's instruments overturned, pinning two people underneath. It was a horrible night.  Emergency services, cops, helicoptors...no one knew the condition of the people who had been airlifted.  Needless to say, rehearsal was called off.

When we got to the next rehearsal, we learned that the people were fine - they had only suffered soft tissue injuries.  That night, we set up the stage in slow motion the first time, as a confidence builder.  The third time we set it up that night, we had narrowed our time down to the 5 minutes that was required by the NFL.  We had exactly five minutes to roll all 42 carts into the stadium, get the electrical, firework and pyrotechic cables attached and all workers to the sidelines.  This was our LAST practice before dress rehearsal.


DRESS REHEARSAL

The stage had already been assembled when we got to the stadium.  This was the first time we had actually been IN the stadium.  We sat in the stands and watched people mimic the band, then took the stage apart and moved it into the parking area at our designated spots.  Then.."showtime".  Everyone was so adrenalin filled, excited, scared and just pumped up.  We rolled the carts into the stadium, set up the stage and stood on the sidelines while The Who went through their numbers.  The lasers were on, the stage was lit up and fireworks filled the sky.  It was INCREDIBLE to watch - right there in SunLife Stadium.  WOW!!!

MY NEW FRIEND, JENNIFER

CARTS LINED UP READY TO GO







We had two days between dress rehearsal and the Superbowl.  Wouldn't you know, my knee decided to swell up?  I iced it and stayed off my feet as much as I could.  I was determined that nothing was going to keep me from SuperBowl Sunday.  I even used the "ride on" carts at the grocery store.  When I woke up Sunday morning, the swelling was GONE!!! YAY

GAME DAY - FEBRUARY 7, 2010

We gathered at the college to catch our buses.  There was so much excitement in the air, hardly anyone could sit still.  Finally, it was time to board the buses.  We had a police escort for our caravan of 18 buses.  They even stopped traffic for us! Everyone was hanging out the windows, hootin' and hollerin' and having a GREAT time.  We all gathered outside the stadium waitING to take our carts to the staging area.  We heard Queen Latifah and Carrie Underwood perform. While we were waiting, the jets flew overhead, signaling the end of the pre-game show.  That was our cue to  move and park the carts in the staging area and wait.

 The wait seemed interminable! Then it was time to roll.  Going through the tunnel, around the goalpost and entering the stadium of 70,000 people was unbelievable.  I was supposed to break away from the cart at the 20 yardline, which I did.  Would you believe that my knee gave out??? Before I knew it, I was looking up at the horrified expressions on my teammate's faces and seeing the huge wheels coming at me.  Instinct took over and I rolled away from the cart.  Everything happened in slow motion.  Next thing I knew, someone was helping me to the sidelines asking if I needed a medic. NONONONONO This can't be happening.  I told them I was fine and watched the halftime show with my teammates.  It was AWESOME! The music was so loud, it went right through you, and the pyro show was ten times better than at rehearsal.  I couldn't believe I was on the sidelines IN THE STADIUM for the SuperBowl HALFTIME SHOW!!!

THE WHO

What is important to note here is that the stage crew saw the show at eye level.  It wasn't until we got back to the college auditorium that we saw the stage from above and were able to watch halftime from the perspective of the fans - both in the stadium and on TV.  The director told us that we had put the stage together in THREE AND A HALF MINUTES!  We were so pumped.  There were several after parties but I was so emotionally drained that I passed.

Although...there was a party two weeks later that I attended.  The organizer asked me if I had any boas or beads because the Saints won.  So...I brought boas.  We had a great time and plan to have reunion parties throughout the year.