By: Rodney Barreto
Chairman, South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee
MIAMI GARDENS – Admit it; you probably don’t like watching the news lately. From job losses to businesses shutting down, it’s difficult to see so many suffering.
So over the past 6 weeks, it was great to witness firsthand some positive news about South Florida’s economy. The South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee along with the NFL hosted three very successful Emerging Business Workshops. I was thrilled to see and meet so many of you at our seminars in Miramar, Miami Gardens and West Palm Beach.
The NFL Emerging Business Program is designed to provide local minority and woman-owned businesses the maximum opportunity to participate in the Super Bowl procurement process. At our three seminars, more than 1,500 people showed up to learn how they can do business with the Super Bowl. Those local business owners all know just how much hosting the Super Bowl helps our entire community.
The numbers are staggering. The Super Bowl pumps hundreds of millions of much needed dollars into our local economy. And right now, nothing can help us more.
The South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee has been working on next year’s game since the final whistle blew on the 2007 Super Bowl.
The big game on February 7th, 2010 at Dolphin Stadium is not only our 10th; we’re also making history in another way. For the first time in more than 30 years, the NFL is moving the Pro Bowl out of Hawaii. So where did the NFL decide to place their All-Star Game? South Florida, of course. Dolphin Stadium will host the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl, on January 31st, 2010. Having the Pro Bowl here is another shot in the arm to our rattled economy.
So often, I hear myself telling people that next year’s Super Bowl is our record breaking 10th here in South Florida. As we push forward in these tough economic times, keep this in mind. We, as a community, will all get through this together and hosting Super Bowl’s is something we do better than anyplace else. We’re already bidding for the 2013 game.
I salute all those local Emerging Business owners who want to help our economy by doing business with the Super Bowl. The NFL’s Emerging Business Program is one we are committed to and something we all can believe in.
