Make Your Plans to Go to Super Bowl XLIX

Baseball may still be called America’s pastime, but football is, by far, the most popular sport to watch. Every Sunday, more than 100 million football fans turn on their TV sets and tune in to the NFL. The average number of viewers watching any single regular-season game is close to 20 million. That is almost three times the audience of any network primetime show! While those numbers are impressive, they pale in comparison to football’s biggest game. On February 1, 2015, more than 100 million people are expected to watch Super Bowl XLIX which will take place at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

 

How Do You Get a Ticket to the Super Bowl?

To score tickets to the Super Bowl, you either need to have some very good connections or have deep pockets and be willing to part with a big chunk of cash. It is also possible, but not probable that you could get very lucky and hit the Super Bowl ticket lottery.

Getting tickets to the Super Bowl is no simple task. The NFL sets the rules on how the 73,000 or so tickets (the capacity of University of Phoenix Stadium) will be distributed. About 75 percent of all tickets that are available for the Super Bowl are shared among all of the NFL teams and the remaining 25 percent are retained by the NFL. The NFL sells their allocation of tickets to media members, media partners, and sponsors. They also hold aside about 1,000 general admission tickets that can be purchased by winning a lottery. Following is a more detailed breakdown of how tickets are distributed.

- Each participating team receives a 17.5 percent share
- The host team, in this case, the Arizona Cardinals, receives a 6.2 percent share
- Each of the remaining 28 NFL teams receives a 1.2 percent share
- The League retains a 25.2 percent share

To discourage the lucky lottery winners from turning around and selling their tickets outside the stadium for five-times the face value, the NFL requires the winners to pick-up their tickets inside the gates of the stadium on game day. Don’t try to get slick and sneak out and scalp your ticket. The NFL has that little ploy covered. You can not get back in to the stadium with any of those lottery-obtained tickets.

 

It Happened this Year

Commenting on the NFL’s crazy idea to start charging the halftime headline performers for the free publicity they receive, Katy Perry, a possible headline performer with 5 current number-one songs and 50 million Twitter followers said,”But I have let them know that I’m not the type of girl that would pay to play the Super Bowl.” We’ll have to wait to see what happens.

 

Planning Your Stay

If you are lucky enough to get your hands on a ticket or two, you will also need to find a nice place to stay during Super Bowl week. Even if you can't get a ticket, it is exciting just to be in town to soak in the festive spirit and maybe watch the game at a local watering hole.

You know that the traffic in Phoenix is going to be a mess and hotels right around the stadium are going to be very expensive. Why stay in Phoenix when you can stay at an affordable hotel like the Best Western Plus Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. Convenient to the airport and close to the best bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, it is well worth the few extra minutes you may have to drive to get to the Super Bowl in Glendale.

 

Cool Bars in Scottsdale

If you are not inside the stadium, the next best place to watch the big game is at a sports bar. Scottsdale has some of the coolest sports bars in all of Arizona.

Blue 32 Sports Grill
7293 Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
With TVs everywhere, fabulous food, and more brands of beer than you can count, Blue 32 Sports Grill provides a perfect atmosphere for watching the Super Bowl.

Duke's Sports Bar
7607 E. McDowell, Scottsdale
Duke's is a friendly neighborhood sports bar that features 46 TVs, 6 pool tables, and a full menu that is served until midnight. The locals love it and you will to.

Max Sports Grille
7134 E. Thomas Road, Scottsdale
Self described as an "Upscale Sports Restaurant at a Neighborhood Price," this ultra-modern and ultra-cool sports bar has more than 50 high-definition TVs, including a personal TV in each booth. Before the kickoff, show off your skills at billiards, play ping-pong, or try to hit the bulls-eye in a game of darts.

There are many excellent places to eat in the city of Scottsdale that range from fine dining establishments to casual family restaurants. For some of the coolest restaurants that have great food and won't put a big strain on your budget, consider having dinner at one of these popular Scottsdale eateries.

Maggiano's Little Italy
16405 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Specializing in authentic cuisine served family-style, this is a fun place that offers amazing homemade pastas, signature salads, prime steaks, fresh fish and fabulous desserts.

Wildfish Seafood Grille
7135 E. Camelback Road, Suite 139, Scottsdale
The Chef and staff are high-energy and the food is top notch. Grab a drink at the chic, urban bar and then sit down in the contemporary dining room while you wait for your perfectly prepared fresh fish entree or prime steak to be served.

Salty Senorita
3748 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Enjoy top-notch service and outstanding traditional Mexican fare in the heart of Old Town. The walls are painted with beautiful murals and you will feel like you are dining with family. Try one or two of the 150 different types of tequila drinks!

Want to show off your moves and do a little dancing? Well there are plenty of cool places to step out at night in Scottsdale.

The Mint
16405 N. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
Once home to a bank, the completely converted space includes a 7,000 square foot dance floor, 4,500 square feet for nursing a drink and socializing, and a luxurious 30-foot bar.

The Roxy Lounge
7443 E. 6th Avenue, Scottsdale
If you want to see the hipsters and the coolest crowd, the Roxy Lounge is the place to go. Patterned after a Hollywood night club, the lounge features top live musical acts and some of the most popular DJs in Arizona. Dress to impress and have a memorable night out.

Red Revolver Lounge
7316 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale
DJs spin a variety of music from trance to 80s rock in this dark and cozy lounge. The dance floors are spacious and the bartenders are attentive. Dance a while, order a cocktail, listen to the music and unwind from a long day.

Join the party and make your plans to be in Scottsdale for Super Bowl week. You can also attend the Pro Bowl game on the weekend before the Super Bowl, and believe it or not, the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass is also happening during Super Bowl week. Call or go online and book your accommodations at the affordable Best Western Plus Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites. The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale is just 30 minutes from the hotel and we'll take you there and pick you up in our comfortable shuttle for free! Don't wait too long because the rooms are going quick.

 

Directions from our hotel