by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
While event planners in Washington, D.C. have put together National Football League opening day celebration at the National Mall, representatives from the Super Bowl Host Committee say they have something special planned right here in town.
The Super NFL Kickoff 2003 is scheduled for Thursday from 4-9 p.m. at the Landing.
“We knew we wanted to celebrate, not only the start of the Jaguars regular season, but the NFL season as a whole,” said Reid Sigmon, vice president of operations for the Host Committee. “We know there’s a lot of excitement there from a lot of people in Jacksonville.”
Featuring interactive games, live music and a direct feed from the pregame concert in Washington, D.C. to be shown on a Jumbotron screen in the courtyard — the game itself will not be aired because of “NFL restrictions” — Sigmon stressed the celebration is a “family event.”
The get the attention of “the lunch crowd,” the Jumbotron will start airing clips at around noon Thursday from past Super Bowls spliced with commentaries from Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, Jaguars co-owner Wayne Weaver and Host Committee president Michael Kelly.
“We’re hoping to have a big turnout and that people on their way home from work will want to stop in and that families will show up, too,” said Sigmon. “We’re getting a good response and we’ve worked really hard to get the word out.”
The Chamber of Commerce and the Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau have sent mass e-mails, and the Host Committee has utilized several different advertising mediums.
“We’ve done some print and television spots,” said Sigmon.
In addition to food vendors in the courtyard area, Sigmon said Landing restaurants would likely have food and drink specials and they’ll show the season opener between the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets.
“We’ve encouraged those restaurants to participate because the Landing is such a great venue that shows off the community and it’s also a wonderful gathering spot,” said Sigmon. “We would hope the people who decided to come out and support us would want to enjoy the Landing after our event is over.”
Host Committee Communications director Heather Surface added the local kickoff represents another milestone for Jacksonville.
“We’re only 17 months away from hosting the Super Bowl,” said Surface. “We’re getting pretty close and there’s reason to celebrate.”