MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - It’s “fandemonium” at the Miami Beach Convention Center, as football enthusiasts have been flocking this week to take part in an immersive foray into all things NFL and Super Bowl.
7News cameras captured attendees of all ages checking out the fan gallery at the Super Bowl Experience, Wednesday evening.
Fans were all decked out in T-shirts and jerseys representing their favorite teams, four days before the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers are set to come face to face at Hard Rock Stadium.
“It’s been wonderful. We didn’t think it was going to be this much stuff, but it’s actually very entertaining,” said Xiomara Arroyo.
“I just want to see everything,” said another attendee.
A couple who spoke to 7News expressed their support for the 49ers.
“Cool town, man, cool town,” said a man.
“Specially since our boys are in it,” a woman next to him added.
Fans who come to the Super Bowl Experience are putting aside their differences, all for the love of the sport. This is the one place people can live out their football passion — like running a 40-yard dash and doing the vertical jump.
Meanwhile, the stars were out and about in the Magic City.
Hall of Famer Michael Strahan came to the Super Bowl Experience to celebrate the launch of a limited edition capsule collection in honor of the NFL’s 100th season.
“Being here at Super Bowl 54 and to be able to come in here and see people shopping and just be around this environment with our own line is really special,” said Strahan.
Regarding the capsule collection, Strahan said, “I love the fact that if someone, he may not go to the game, but took something, a part of the game.”
With the Super Bowl four days away, Strahan had a little advice for the players.
“Relax. Enjoy it. Just enjoy it right now,” he said. “Practices and all those things, you can become too tense, and when you become too tense, you don’t perform the way you perform.”
Hours earlier, employees with the Wilson crew were hard at work sewing the Super Bowl game balls.
An employee said she feels no added pressure knowing where these balls will be used.
“It’s awesome. It’s the best feeling ever,” she said.
“I literally can sew nothing else,” said another employee.
Fans can watch pros making footballs from start to finish.
The Wilson crew even created a 7News football befitting the official Super Bowl station in Miami.
There’s a whole lot of behind-the-scenes action happening in South Florida with the big game just days away.
One of the stars of the halftime show, Jennifer Lopez, is getting ready.
“A monumental accomplishment to even be asked to play in the Super Bowl,” said her fiancé, Alex Rodriguez. “The fact that she’s the first Hispanic, it gives me great pride and humility for her. The fact that it’s being done right here in her hometown, where her four kids go to school and where she makes home, it makes it that much more special to share with friends and family and the great fans around the world.”
There’s a lot at stake for the Chiefs and the 49ers, and the fans feel the pressure, too.
“I’m just to be here to represent, because the Midwest is a great place,” said Chiefs fan Michelle Johnson.
NFL officials said there’s a reason they keep coming back to South Florida, where the big game has been hosted 11 times, the most in NFL history.
“They know how to do this. They have an experienced team, the Super Bowl Host Committee,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, “and we believe we’ll be back here many times going into the future. It’s just a great spot for the Super Bowl.”
As for the fans, they said it’s also a fun time at the Super Bowl Experience.
“It’s amazing: the lights, the technology. The staff has been great,” said Johnson.
“I haven’t missed a single one in 30 years, and I live in Lauderdale and brought the wife down and can’t wait to see it,” said a man.
The Super Bowl Experience will be open through Saturday. For more information, click here.
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