Buildup to Super Bowl LX officially kicks off in San Jose
By Elwyn Henderson
Super Bowl Week for Super Bowl LX officially kicked off Monday night at the San Jose Convention Center when the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks held their respective sessions with the media.
Media representatives boarded busses at the Moscone Convention Center in Downtown San Francisco, home of the Super Bowl Media Center mid-afternoon for the one hour rider over to San Jose.
Once we went through the security screening we went into the Media Workroom where various food offerings were available to wait for the Patriots who were scheduled to come out first at 5 PM Pacific Time. There were several delectable meats and vegetables and soup offerings along with some dessert items.
When we finished our meal we had a few minutes to catch up and visit with friends we see each year at the various media events and the game. A number of us have covered at least 20 Super Bowls and Super Bowl LX is this writer’s 23rd game to be blessed to cover.
We went across the hall into the interview area where podiums were set up for the Head Coach, Quarterback and other offensive and defensive players. The Cheerleaders and mascots came out and mingled with the media and all the other players were available in the hall for interviews.
As has been the custom for several years, the Patriots were available for one hour and then there was an hour break before the Seahawks came out for their media session which began at 7 PM Pacific Time. Their session was also an hour long.
It is always nice to see the national sports personalities at Opening Night each year and to get a chance to say hello to some of them. We had a chance to visit briefly with Sal Paolantonio who is well known in the sports world and is a Philadelphia-based bureau reporter for ESPN.
We also had a brief visit with Roman Gabriel III, the son of Los Angeles Rams great quarterback of the past, Roman Gabriel Jr. He has an organization that helps young people, the Sold Out Youth Foundation.
And as we get to do every year, we caught up with Guillermo from Jimmy Kimmel Live and exchanged greetings for a moment.
Once the Seahawks concluded their media session we boarded busses back to the Media Center at Moscone Convention Center and headed back to our respective hotels.
A number of things are scheduled for Tuesday, including the NBC Sports Media Day where the pregame announcers and production staff and game day game announcers will be available for interviews at 2 PM and then the annual Host Committee Media Party that will run from 7 PM-11 PM at the headquarters office of EA Sports in Redwood City which is about 45 minutes from San Francisco. Media members will board busses at the Media Center for that trip.
We will post an update on the Media Party Wednesday morning.
