NFL PRO BOWL WEEK in Arizona

As a ten-year season ticket holder (and counting) of the Arizona Cardinals, learning that Glendale AZ would become a dual host to both Super Bowl XLIX and Pro Bowl 2015 was pure elation. In baseball terms, this is both the World Series and All-Star Game wrapped into two spectacular weekends. Yes the epicenter of the professional American football world smack daddy in the Valley of the Sun. Traditionally the Pro Bowl has always been hosted in Aloha Stadium in Hawaiian island paradise. But just recently five years ago in 2010, the NFL broke this tradition and set a new precedent and played both Super Bowl and Pro Bowl in Miami FL. And actually looking at the near future, the NFL considers breaking international barriers and playing the Pro Bowl 2017 in Rio De Janeiro. Why does this happen? Pro Bowl revenues have become flat with the annual game in Honolulu HI, so in the interest of sustaining this exhibition showcase game new innovations have been created.

For a lifelong football fan getting to his first Pro Bowl, I was lucky to connect with Pro Bowl Dan who has been to an astounding nineteen Pro Bowls. Yes, he is the expert and resident historian on all things Pro Bowl. In fact from my good buddy and my dumb luck, I got invited to attend Pro Bowl Draft broadcast on NFL Network, billed as Fantasy Football For Real. I was also eager to learn about all the smorgasbord explosion of events on what Dan called an “abbreviated week” leading up to the exhibition game. Anything from Pro Bowl Cheerleader clinics to NFL Official Saturday Night Party at the Montelucia to NFL Official Pro Bowl Tailgate Party at the stadium, fans could find extravagant events galore.  Heres my photo report of what I had seen Pro Bowl Week:

COMMUNITY 60 –
For the first event of the week, NFL players and NFL cheerleaders participated in a NFL Play 60 Community Blitz. The mission is to encourage children to have at least 60 minutes of exercise every day. At Luke Elementary School in Glendale AZ, some gradeschool kids got the best experience of the year when they got the entire afternoon available to have drills with football heroes or to have a cheerleader clinic with all-star poms. Even a few mascots showed up for the festivities.

NFL Players make a hero’s entrance

San Diego Chargers Charger Girl Katelyn, Denver Broncos Cheerleader Sam, and Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader Amanda

New England Patriots Mascot Pat and POTPP Blog Author Max

Cincinnati Bengals Mascot Who Dey blends into the classroom

Cincinnati Bengals Mascot Who Dey and Pro Bowl Dan

PRO BOWL DRAFT 2015 “Fantasy Football For Real” –
At the Arizona Biltmore shortly after the the Community Blitz, every Pro Bowl Player was on-site to be drafted by either Team Carter or Team Irvin. The braintrust, which included the GM, a player legend, and player captains from offense and defense, selected players in a playground style format back-and-forth until both rosters were filled at every position.

Braintrust for Team Carter was NFL Hall-of-Famer Cris Carter, Houston Texans DE JJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers DE Antonio Brown, and NFL Hall-of-Famer John Randle

First Overall Draft Pick for Pro Bowl 2015 by Team Carter was Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts

Braintrust for Team Irvin was NFL Hall-of-Famer Michael Irvin, ex-Dallas Cowboys / current Philadelphia Eagles RB DeMarco Murray, Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden, and Dallas Cowboys Legend Darren Woodson

First Draft Pick by Team Irvin was Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys. Team Irvin made sure they picked as many Dallas Cowboys as they could add

Winning Team claims this Pro Bowl Trophy and all participants get a double paycheck

TREE PLANTING –
Local politicians from city and state went to Sahuaro Ranch Park to promote NFL Pro Bowl and Super Bowl Greening project. As a former 8-year resident of Glendale AZ, I felt a bit of civic pride and was happy to join this unusual event on a weekend morning.

Tennessee Titans Cheerleader Ashley, St Louis Rams Cheerleader Sara, Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, NFL Environmental Program Director Jack Groh, Seattle Seahawks Sea Gal Melissa, Houston Texans Cheerleader Liz, and Super Bowl XLIX Mascot Spike

NFL EXPERIENCE –
For a large scale event for the entire community who do not have a ticket to the Big Game, the NFL hosts a huge exhibition called NFL Experience for all fans to meet players and legends, participate in football style drills, see historic exhibits and sponsor attractions, take a thousand selfies, and spend money in a retail space. With both Pro Bowl and Super Bowl being hosted in Glendale AZ, the brand new palatial Phoenix Convention Center had a double extended run.

Inflatable NFL Shield next to the Play 60 Clinic Field

Retail showcase of Nike jerseys from NFC Teams

Raider Fan Carlos posing in a Raider jersey photo opp

New York Jets Flight Crew Brie, Washington Redskins Cheerleader Charo, Cincinnati Bengals Cheerleader Lauren, and Oakland Raider Raiderette Michelle

NFL OFFICIAL SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY –
From 6-8pm at the Montelucia Resort in luxury Paradise Valley AZ, I paid some exorbitant ticket price to attend this VIP event. Figuring this may be my one and only Pro Bowl I got to attend, I was going all out! About three hundred people attended the evening affair which included many food spreads, open bar, and entertainment. Every NFL mascot that made the trip to Arizona greeted fans. Pro Bowl Cheerleaders greeted fans and had a couple of live routines. Local entertainment from a mariachi band and ceremonial dancers also performed. This was a fun time to meet other NFL super fans, like making the acquaintance of the Somerville family from Indianapolis.

Representatives from Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders, Jacksonville Jaguars Roar, New England Patriots Cheerleaders, San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush, Carolina Panthers Topcats, Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders, and Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders.

AZCC Amanda

Roar Sam

NEPC Amber

49GR Aleena

Topcats Lindsey

ICC Natalie

MDC Melissa

Other big events which I was not able to attend this week included Pro Bowl Practice at Scottsdale Community College, Pro Bowl Cheerleader Clinic at Pioneer Community Park, and the VIP Pro Bowl Tailgate Party at the Red Zone in the University of Phoenix Stadium.

If anyone is curious, here is a layout of NFL Experience 2015.