Superbowl LII Halftime Show
I was lucky enough to get a unique experience with Superbowl LII being in MN, I won two tickets to see the show from the field! This was a “super” contest win.
It started about 3 hours before kick-off. Danith and I boarded a bus from Mystic Lake Casino and headed to the staging area. This turned out to be at the MN fairgrounds, the secret base for the halftime training and practice. All the halftime performers (except Justin Timberlake) where present going over their routines and last minute changes.
From there we boarded our coach buses and began the slow parade down to US Bank stadium. The police closed all roads for our procession. It felt like being part of the President’s motorcade. In record time we pulled up to the stadium just as the jets flew overhead. Unlike all the masses inside we were treated with a view of the precise air maneuvers. I do not know why they still buzz closed stadiums, but for us it was a sight to see.
The bus stopped about 2 blocks from the stadium, at the edge of the “secure” zone. For those unaware a large section around US Bank stadium was cordoned off and secured with military troops similar to a quarantine zone. We had to walk to a near by parking garage that was turned something similar to TSA at the airport. We were screened, metal detected and in some cases patted down before moving to the next step.
After about 30-45 minutes we arrived at the back doors. Slowly we were ushered from the cold into the bowels of the stadium. There is 5 levels of switch backs to get from ground floor to the bottom of the field, we were at the back of a long line of performers and marching band members. Unfortunately there were no monitors to watch the game from the 2nd quarter on as we stood waiting.
Once they gave word that the players left the field we had less than 3 minutes to get all people from the hallways onto the field into the various places we were assigned. Below is the video of the rush onto the field:
Entering the field was amazing. From the darkness into a bright light of cheering fans and camera flashes. With the Eagles Mascot and cheerleaders next to us we assembled onto the field and waited for the stage to be quickly put together during the Pepsi commercial.
Here is the video of the halftime show from the ground perspective.
We were pushed and shoved as camera booms moved and the prop carts shuffled around. During one song I think we were in the absolute wrong spot as the dancers had to change into the pastel shirts and grab the reflective signs behind us, but we had no where else to go.
In 13 short minutes the show was over and we had another 3 minutes to get everybody off the field and up those corridors so the players and crew could get back to the field. Here is the exit video, all the while being yelled at to keep moving.
An amazing experience but ended up seeing almost nothing other than the hustle and bustle. Next year I will stay home to watch it on TV like the rest of America.
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