Talking About the Super Bowl? Already?

The NFL’s pre-season is barely under way, and already there is murmuring afoot about the Super Bowl.

This year will be Super Bowl XLII which is, if memory serves me correctly, Super Bowl 42. The game will be February 3rd, 2008, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (map it).

It’s not any too soon to begin thinking about plans to attend the game, because demand for tickets greatly exceeds the supply. And for many people, the sojourn to the nice weather of Phoenix, at a time when much of the rest of the country is cold and wet, makes for a very nice vacation plan.

Tickets to the game are made available through the two teams competing in the game, although a lesser supply of tickets are also made available to the other NFL teams. The remaining tickets are made available to the general public through a random drawing, but, unfortunately, the deadline for the drawing has passed. If you want tickets to the game, you’ll need to coordinate with your local team office.

CAUTION #1: The NFL does not make Super Bowl tickets available to travel agents, ticket brokers, or tour operators. While there will be lots of travel package options available, these tickets will have been obtained via third parties — which means that the tickets will be going for well over face value. There may be some great offers out there, but buyer beware.

CAUTION #2: You will also see tickets available for purchase through a variety of online ticket sites. Again, these are private transactions, meaning higher than face value prices are to be expected. Sometimes, much MUCH higher. I have purchased tickets online for a variety of events, including sporting events, and have had very good experiences. However, use great care in buying tickets online, using reputable sources to avoid getting burned.

Flights and hotel accommodations are also going to be in short supply, high demand, and high prices. You may be able to find your best prices now, before the teams are even known. Consider making reservations right away, and finding out what the cancellation policy is — just in case your team isn’t actually playing in the big game.

For flights, you may want to consider making reservations now as well, purchasing either a refundable fare, or one with a cancellation policy that you can live with. It’s a gamble that you may need to take in order to be able to get to Phoenix if your team is there.

The teams are taking steps during this pre-season to make sure that they’ll be playing in Phoenix come February. If you want to be there watching, you need to do the same.

__________________________________________