Gala in Gator Country
FEB. 6 >> NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS VS. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES >> 6:30 P.M. EST
[1] CELEBRITY FLAG FOOTBALL (Jacksonville University's Milne Field, Feb. 5) NFL stars past (Roger Staubach) and present (Bills' Willis McGahee) go deep. Doug Flutie and The Flutie Brothers band provide halftime entertainment. [2] TASTE OF THE NFL (ATP International Headquarters, Feb. 5) A player or alum from every team offers a sampling of his city's fare. (Texans LB Antwan Peek will bring papaya and mango BBQ tenderloin.) Fans can nosh with players for $400. [3] LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S SUPER BOWL SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL (Veterans Memorial Arena, Feb. 5) The homegrown Southern rock gods (they formed at Jacksonville High, naming themselves after gym teacher Leonard Skinner) launch their three-guitar attack. Other shows this week include Kanye West and Outkast's Big Boi (Feb. 3) and Dwight Yoakam and Jo Dee Messina (Feb. 4). [4] NFL EXPERIENCE (JEA Park, Feb. 3--6) Boot a field goal, run a pass route and catch a punt from a JUGS machine. On Saturday, NFL players join the competition. [5] SUPER FLEET (St. Johns River) The city fell short of the NFL-mandated 17,500 "quality rooms," so five cruise ships will dock within eight miles of the stadium. All rooms are sold-out, but their bars, restaurants and amenities are open to the public. [6] NFL GLOBAL JR. CHAMPIONSHIP (Skinner-Barco Stadium, Feb. 2 and 5) Teams from Canada, France, Japan and Mexico compete against the U.S. 19-and-under squad. [7] TAMERRY'S BILLIARDS BENEFIT (TaMerry's Sports Café, Feb. 4) Vivian (the Texas Tornado) Villarreal joins NFL vets, including Bengals' Kevin Hardy and Jags' Juran Bolden, in nine ball action. [8] SELECTIONS FROM THE COLLECTION OF DON WEISS (Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, through Feb. 27) The personal stash of the late executive director of the NFL includes a Lombardi Trophy, Super Bowl rings and rare player photos. [9] SUPER CELEBRATION BASS TOURNAMENT (Riverfront Park, Feb. 5) A VIP tournament featuring ex--Seahawks fullback John L. Williams. Also an open boat category with a $10,000 top prize. [10] EA MADDEN BOWL (River City Brewing Company, Feb. 3) Two-time defending champ Dwight Freeney of the Colts and seven NFL challengers play Madden NFL 2005. [11] NFL CHARITIES GOLF CLASSIC (Amelia Island Plantation, Feb. 5) Hall of Famers such as Kellen Winslow Sr., Lynn Swann and Jan Stenerud compete in foursomes and tee off in a hole in one contest for a new Cadillac. --Adam Duerson
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ALLTEL STADIUM
• NORMAL SEATING CAPACITY: 76,877
• SUPER BOWL CAPACITY: 84,000
• PREDICTED GAME TIME TEMP: 62°
• TURF: Mix of Bermuda grass, perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, all grown in Riddleville, Ga.
• WEIGHT OF THE 2.5 ACRES OF SOD TRUCKED IN FOR GAME: 1,804,000 pounds
• FACE VALUE OF NOSEBLEED SUPER BOWL TICKET: $500
• FACE VALUE OF CHEAPEST TICKET TO FIRST SUPER BOWL: $6
PARTY TIMES
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SUPER SWIMSUIT PARTY Seawalk Pavilion (1st Avenue North and 1st Street North, Jacksonville Beach); Feb. 5, 9 p.m. Expected guests: 2,000. SI swimsuit models Marisa Miller (below, in blue), Bridget Hall and Veronica Varekova mingle with Ben Roethlisberger, Edgerrin James, Byron Leftwich and other NFL stars.
NFL PLAYERS GALA Plush (845 University Blvd North) Feb. 6, 9 p.m. Expected guests: 3,000. Among the invited to the $100-a-head event: Alicia Keys (below) and NFLers Adewale Ogunleye (Bears) and Patrick Surtain (Dolphins). Five percent of proceeds will go to tsunami relief.
PLAYBOY SUPER SATURDAY NIGHT River City Brewing Co. (835 Museum Circle) Feb. 5, 9:30 p.m. Expected guests: 1,500. The place to be if you like body-painted mermaids and Jeremy Shockey. Other invitees to the grotto-themed event: John Elway and Ray Lewis. Hef, of course, will be on hand.
MAXIMONY SUPER BOWL PARTY Garden Club of Jacksonville (1005 Riverside Ave); Feb. 5, 9 p.m. Expected guests: 1,200. A wedding theme, complete with hack singers. Jerry Rice, Warren Sapp and Nicole Richie RSVP'd yes.
COLOR MAP
MAP BY JOHN HERSEY
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CARLA BONNER (VILLARREAL)
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BOB LEVEY/WIREIMAGE.COM (SNOOP DOGG)
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MCA (LYNYRD SKYNYRD)
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DON HEUPEL/AP (FLUTIE)
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MIKE FIALA/WIREIMAGE/ICON SMI (SWANN)
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TIM SHAFFER/REUTERS (KEYS)
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DAVID WESTING/GETTY IMAGES (MILLER)
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TIM HAWLEY/FOODPIX/GETTY IMAGES (FILET)
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PAUL SPINELLI/GETTY IMAGES (WEISS)
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BILL FRAKES (BUTLER)
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ROBERT HOLLAND/THE IMAGE BANK/GETTY IMAGES (BUTLER)
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DONALD MIRALLE/GETTY IMAGES (ALLTEL)
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INSA KORTH/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (SHIP)
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SCOTT HALLERAN/GETTY IMAGES (LYNCH)
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HUNTER MARTIN/WIREIMAGE.COM (DAWKINS)