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George R. Brown Convention Center
staff preps for the 2004 game
HOUSTON, Texas (February 1, 2003) - With
the George R. Brown Convention Center lined up as the
media center when Houston hosts Super Bowl XXXVIII one
year from today, senior facility management traveled
to San Diego last week to see how the world's largest
one-day sporting event comes together.
Dawn Ullrich and Luther Villagomez, GRBCC
director and assistant director, respectively, reviewed
operations at the San Diego Convention Center, the neighboring
headquarters hotel and nearby attractions as part of
their fact-finding mission.
"You have to witness the scope of
the Super Bowl firsthand to fully understand the combined
magnitude of all the activities," Ullrich said.
"It is truly an operational marvel - and a tribute
to the NFL and the host city - that everything goes
off without a hitch. We took note of a lot of little
things that we can do next year to improve what is already
a fantastic experience.
"San Diego sets the bar pretty high for host cities,
but I am firmly convinced that Houston can raise the
bar even higher," she added.
Houston's Convention Center will host
more than 3,000 members of a worldwide press corps for
next year's big game. The Convention Center will feature
areas designed to accommodate print reporters, radio
shows, TV sets, press conferences, and countless meetings.
All of this will take place in the new exhibit hall
that is now under construction on the south end of the
building. The $165 million facility-wide expansion project
is expected to be complete in November.
Across the street from the Convention
Center, the Hilton Americas will function as the headquarters
hotel for the National Football League. In fact, 60
rooms will be stripped of typical guest room furnishings
and appointed with office furniture for approximately
a month. The Hilton Americas is now under construction
but will also be completed in November. At 1,200 rooms,
it will be Houston's largest hotel.
"The NFL knows exactly what it's
doing and is very good at what they do. We'll take our
cues from them," Villagomez said. "It's our
job to make Houston's resources available to them and
provide a top-notch support system. The George R. Brown
Convention Center and the Hilton Americas are outstanding
places for the NFL to base its operations."
Super Bowl XXXVIII is expected to generate
an economic impact of $300 million for Houston. It is
estimated that 100,000 out-of-town visitors will visit
the city during Super Bowl week. Of that number, it
is anticipated that 30,000 will come to the city not
to attend the game, but to enjoy the parties and festivities
associated with it.
Super Bowl XXXVIII is scheduled to be
played February 1, 2004, in Reliant Stadium.
Contact:
Pete Radowick
713-853-8077
peter.radowick@cityofhouston.net
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