Can’t score a ticket to the big game? The Join the Huddle shuttle is trying to bring the Super Bowl XLVIII experience to you.
On October 18, the NFL took its show on the road to Brooklyn’s Abraham Lincoln High School, where the shuttle made a stop to promote the upcoming Super Bowl, to be held on February 2, 2014 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium – the first time the Super Bowl will be held in the area in NFL history.
The NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee designed the shuttle filled with NFL memorabilia and games to help promote the historic event. Included is an outside portion, which allows fans to partake in various drills that make them feel like the pros. There’s even a section where participants can practice their own celebratory touchdown dance.
The tour was timed for when the Lincoln football team was playing against rival Erasmus High School. As fans entered the field to show home team pride, they also stopped by the fun-filled van and were impressed.
Dorene O’Connor, who also happens to be wife of Lincoln High head coach Shawn, brought her daughter to try a field goal kick quick and agility training.
“It was awesome. I loved seeing my daughter play some football,” said O’Connor..
“It’s absolutely great that the Super Bowl is in New York this season. All New Yorkers love football.”
Although the Huddle Shuttle sets out to promote the entire NFL, the NY/NJ Committee made sure that New York was well represented by including replica locker rooms with both Jets and Giants gear. Inside the shuttle were helmets and jerseys that had been worn by local fan favorites, including Hall of Famer and former Jet Curtis Martin and two-time Super Bowl champion and current QB, Eli Manning.
Diehard Giants fan Nick Reyes loved the local touch that was put into the festivities.
“I’m a big Giants fan so it was great seeing all the gear from the team like the Eli Manning jersey. I also thought the activities were cool,” he said.
Reyes, who is upset about the Giants awful season, (1-6) had an interesting take on what he wants for his favorite team the rest of the season.
“I hope they lose every game now so they can get a high draft pick,” he wished.
But the most popular area of the event was the Vince Lombardi Trophy Room. All fans that showed up were able to view and take photos with the actual trophy that will be presented to the future Super Bowl champions.
“It was great to see the actually Lombardi trophy and take a picture with it,” said San Francisco 49ers fan Alfred Brown.
“Seeing the trophy was my favorite part,” agreed O’Conner.
The Join the Huddle tour is the first-ever mobile tour associated with the Super Bowl. It is expected to make at least 48 stops. To find out where the tour is headed next, visit www.nynjsuperbowl.com or follow @NYNJSuperBowl on Twitter.