Super Bowl Party Like a Pro Guide

When Ken Spalasso and his friends went to the 2007 Super Bowl in Miami, they walked in blind without a game plan. They bought their tickets, booked a flight and reserved hotel rooms. That was it.

So when it came time to decide what to do on the Friday and Saturday nights before the big game, they were lost.

“We noticed there were tons of parties out there, and we couldn’t figure out what to do or what party to choose. We were completely overwhelmed,” Spalasso said.

Many of the parties were private or by invitation only, enough to scare off most first-time Super Bowl attendees. But Spalasso and his friends were determined. They scoured the secondary market and found tickets being resold on Craigslist and eBay for swank oceanfront parties and an event hosted by actor Mark Wahlberg.

It wasn’t easy, but they had the time of their lives.

After this experience, Spalasso says he realized that many people who went to the Super Bowl for the first time were probably like him -- confused and slightly intimidated by the spectacle. That's why he created Super Sunday HQ, a website that provides a directory of all the celebrity parties on the days before the game.

“You really need a plan,” he said. “If you’re spending all this money to travel and buy tickets, you want to make the most out of it. And there are so many opportunities to go to some of these big parties you won’t get anywhere else. You need to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Bigger Than the Game

Every year, the parties thrown during Super Bowl weekend in the host city become bigger and more lavish to the point where, for some people, they have become more important than the game, says Spalasso.

The budgets for these parties can run as high as $1 million. They feature outrageous, carnival-like decorations, celebrities, scores of beautiful women and big-name musical acts.

The average cost for a ticket is $1,000 per person but can go as high as $2,500 on the secondary market.

“Last year, we even sold a table at one event for $20,000,” Spalasso said. “It came with your own model in your VIP booth.”

Fans might think that these celebrity-studded parties are exclusive -- and some are, such as events thrown by talent agencies where you can only get in if your name is Tom Cruse or Cameron Diaz. But those make up just 1 percent of the parties thrown during Super Bowl week, says Spalasso.

The majority of parties, even if they are billed as invitation-only, are accessible if you know what you’re doing.

The key is figuring out which party will provide the most bang for the buck, says Phil Tanguy, founder of On Point, a special events tour operator based in Houston.

The best events are thrown by companies to entertain customers, sponsors and advertisers because they have unlimited budgets that allow them to afford the best entertainment, food, drinks offers and decorations.

People should avoid parties thrown by inexperienced event organizers, says Tanguy. Often these organizers are only interested in their return on investment, so they will skimp on the extras like handing out free tickets to women.

“You want to make sure it’s not all guys at the party, that there’s a good mix," Tanguy said. "But if you’re just profit motivated, handing out comp tickets to local girls will hurt the bottom line, so many don’t do it.”

If it’s your first time going to the Super Bowl, the best way to figure out which party to attend is by going through a trip adviser or asking experienced fans, says Tanguy. They will know the track records of event organizers, who has a history of throwing the best parties and who delivers on their promises.

Usually the dead giveaway that a party won’t be something special is if it is being promoted on local radio and billboards or if fliers are being handed out in public directing consumers to call a phone number to buy tickets.

“Some of these event organizers think the Super Bowl is an opportunity to get rich, but it also comes with a lot of risk,” Tanguy said. “They may not sell enough sponsorship to cover fixed costs, so they’re scrambling trying to sell enough tickets to fill the venue.”

In the end, many inexperienced event organizers are crushed financially.

“We see it every year where parties get shut down, and as a consumer, not only do you not have party to go to on Friday or Saturday night, but you’re stuck trying to fight to get your money back,” Tanguy said.

The Super Bowl: A Tailgating-Free Zone

Fans expecting to go to the Super Bowl and tailgate like they do during the regular season will be disappointed, says Joe Cahn, known as the Commissioner of Tailgating.

Stadium parking lots are occupied by corporate tents and sponsored events like the NFL Experience, leaving little to no room for fans.

It is also impractical, says Cahn, who has spent the past 17 years visiting every football stadium in the country.

“How are you going to travel great distances, from New York or San Francisco to Indianapolis, with all of your tailgating equipment?”

The NFL doesn’t prohibit tailgating, but it discourages it for safety reasons, especially after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, says Cahn.

“Here you have the biggest sporting event in the United States. Think about 50 people in big RVs, and you have no idea what’s inside these giant rigs, each with 50 propane tanks. That’s kind of lethal when you think about it.”

For most, tailgating is not a primary concern. When people are spending thousands of dollars for game tickets, they typically want to experience something more spectacular than gathering around a barbecue like they do for eight home games each season, says Cahn.

Finding the Party for You

To ensure the best experience, fans can go through companies that arrange Super Bowl trips. A basic package through On Point, which includes game tickets, four nights at a hotel, transportation and commemorative gifts, costs $4,700 per person.

The deluxe package includes entrance to the exclusive parties and can run up to $15,000 per person.

“It might seem like a lot of money, but for many people this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and they want to make it memorable,” Tanguy said. “You can go to the Super Bowl or you can really go to the Super Bowl.”

People who are on tight budgets can pay between $250 and $400 to attend the less-exclusive parties, but the wow factors like headline entertainment and beautiful women will be lacking, says Tanguy.

For money-conscious people, he suggests they don’t go out every night and save their money for Saturday when the biggest events are held.

Fans also need to be wary of bars or clubs that charge hundreds of dollars just to walk through the door. They should call ahead and ask what’s being offered.

“Everyone wants to make money, so you need to ask what value you’re getting for your money,” Tanguy said. “Are they bringing in a DJ you wouldn’t otherwise be able to see? Is there a complimentary drink? Make sure you’re not just paying a really steep cover charge to hang out with folks that would be there on a regular Friday or Saturday night.”

Going to the Super Bowl should be a special experience, and that can cost a lot of money, says Tanguy. However, in these tight economic times, people should consider whether it is a good use of their finances.

“Do you want to spend that money going to the Super Bowl and all these parties or do you want to upgrade your sofa and get a new plasma TV at home? There’s a lot to be said for that,” Tanguy said.

Alan Bachand, founder of 14SB.com, a site that arranges Super Bowl trips, says you don’t have to spend like a high roller to have a good time at the game.

“You can go to a pub on the corner. The beer may be more expensive than normal and it may be tight to get in, but once you’re in, you’ll have a great time," Bachand said. "And you don’t have to spend all that money people think you should.”