Posts Tagged ‘Experience’

Photo Gallery: Inside the NFL Experience

By Andrew Tolentino | Assistant Editor

Braving the second evening of a three-day North Texas ice apocalypse, I put on my warmest clothes and ventured to the Dallas Convention Center for the Super Bowl XLV NFL Experience.

Despite the freezing temperatures, I  arrived without incident and with childlike glee when I saw the epic Super Bowl XLV letters standing in the iced-over convention center lawn. As visitors – some locals, some tourists, some brandishing terrible towels, some sporting cheese heads – poured inside the building, I couldn’t help but momentarily absorb the spectacle from afar.

However, I have seen the movie “Alive,” and I know what prolonged exposure can do to a man.

After making my way inside the traveling NFL theme park and eating a protein bar (just to make sure),  I confirmed the glorious magnitude foreshadowed by that dramatic entrance. I was greeted with the hustle and bustle of show-goers, a light show and an enormous Drew Brees cut-out hanging from the ceiling. At the epicenter of the experience, the Topps and Panini-sponsored Memorabilia Show lured me in immediately. Bringing their best host-city wares and cream-of-the-crop football collectibles, dealers set up shop, hoping to make hobbyists out of every attendee. Offering reasonably-priced merchandise and promotions to a crowd of awestruck football fanatics, most of these merchants didn’t have to do much convincing. 

Beyond gridiron collectibles, the event was packed with engaging exhibits and photo ops. I watched as attendees posed with their heads atop life-sized mannequins from various teams, placed their hands in player-casted molds and stood in line for autographs from Will Witherspoon and Chinedum Ndukwe. Surrounded by locker room display cases, visitors could even use computers to search for and watch specific plays from the season.

Marked by interactive displays, free autograph sessions and other activities throughout, the event is more than just a sight to behold. Appropriately labeled, the spectacle is all about the experience.

With that being said, below are some of the visual highlights from my frigid, but rewarding night. Stay tuned for an upcoming NFL Experience video.

Topps-Heavy NFL Experience Starts Today

By Andrew Tolentino | Assistant Editor

The entire city of Dallas is buckling down for a swarm of Super Bowl guests and a flock of football fandom. Barreling at the head of the herd, Topps officials are arriving with a bag of hobby exclusives.

Starting today, the out-of-town manufacturer is setting up shop at the NFL Experience. Through Sunday, Feb. 6, attendees to stop by the Topps booth for free sample cards, prizes and other interactive festivities.

Among Topps’ top-rated activities is  the company’s wrapper redemption program. Booth visitors who open three packs of 2010 Topps/Bowman football cards  will receive limited Super Bowl XLV cards featuring host-city players and other NFL superstars.  The players in this 7-card set are: Dez Bryant, Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Sam Bradford, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Michael Vick.

Available for purchase at the booth, 2010 Topps Football Complete Sets come in commemorative Super Bowl XLV boxes. This big-game-dedicated offering also comes with five exclusive Super Bowl Moments cards featuring the likes of Drew Brees (SB XLIV), Santonio Holmes (SB XLIII), David Tyree (SB XLII), Tom Brady (SB XXXVII) and Adam Vinatieri (SB XXXVI).

On top of the Super Bowl Moments bonus, show-goers who purchase the  2010 Topps Complete Set will also receive one limited-edition patch card, specifically created for this NFL Experience. These special incentives include Super Bowl veterans like Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, John Elway and Drew Brees.

The NFL Experience kicks off today with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Dallas Convention Center.