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Frequently Asked Questions About Super Bowl XLV

Wherein we answer six FAQ about the 2011 game at Cowboys Stadium.
By D Magazine |
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Why is D devoting an entire issue to the Super Bowl?

Because the game scheduled at Arlington’s Cowboys Stadium on Feb. 6, 2011—the first Super Bowl ever to be played in North Texas—will have a profound effect on our communities for the next 10 months and beyond. From logistics, security, and other planning by local governments to new opportunities for Dallas-Fort Worth businesses, the big game is a mammoth undertaking that, hopefully, will leave a legacy of economic progress and regional cooperation in its wake. It will, in a nutshell, affect every North Texas resident to some degree.

Why is the Super Bowl so important to DFW’s business community?

Because it represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show off our region to many of the world’s most important chief executives. An estimated 62 percent of the 100,000-plus people who will attend the big game will be CEOs or the companies’ key decision-makers. Hundreds of thousands of guests will visit the region because of Super Bowl XLV, including about 4,500 credentialed members of the media. Tens of millions more will watch the game on television, where Dallas-Fort Worth’s dynamic business climate and cultural diversity will be on full display. If only a few companies decide to relocate or open operations here as a result, creating new jobs and opportunities for North Texans, the money invested in the game will have been well-spent. Says former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, chairman of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee: “CEOs are going to be coming to [Dallas-Fort Worth] in enormous numbers. This is really our benefit—to showcase our market.”

What is the host committee?

The host committee is a group of 279 community leaders charged with planning and taking appropriate actions to ensure that Dallas-Fort Worth is prepared to host the Super Bowl. Besides Staubach, the chairman, the committee is led by many of the most prominent people in the region. Among them: Bill Lively, who serves as president and CEO; former Dallas Cowboys star Troy Aikman; Dallas Cowboys executive Charlotte Jones Anderson; former Texas secretary of state George Bayoud Jr.; and mayors Tom Leppert, Mike Moncrief, and Robert Cluck of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington, respectively. The committee, which serves as a liaison between the NFL and local efforts, appoints volunteers, confirms sponsorships, and produces the main and ancillary events associated with the Super Bowl.

Are corporate and individual contributions to the host committee tax deductible?

No. The host committee is classified as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit corporation. That’s the Internal Revenue Service designation for professional and business associations, like chambers of commerce or real estate boards, whose purpose is to promote a common business interest. As a 501(c)(6) group, the host committee is given tax-exempt status by the IRS. But contributions to the committee are not deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes. Donations can be deducted as business expenses, however.

What are the average North Texan’s chances of getting a ticket to the Super Bowl?

Pretty slim. Most of the game tickets go to the 32 NFL teams. The league controls the rest of the tickets, distributing about 1 percent of them to fans through an annual Super Bowl random drawing. Requests for the random drawing are accepted between Feb. 1 and June 1 of each year before the game. All entries must include name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, and must be sent via certified or registered mail to: Super Bowl Random Drawing; P.O. Box 49140; Strongsville, OH 44149-0140. You’ll be notified by mail in October or November if you’re eligible to purchase a ticket. Good luck!

What if I have more questions about the host committee or the big game?

Your best bet is to start with the committee itself. Its main phone number is 214-252-5100; its web site is www.northtexasuperbowl.com

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