City of Glendale - News

Counting Down to Super Bowl XLII

Arizona Host Committee, Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs and Governor Janet Napolitano unveil official countdown clock, logo and theme, and introduce official mascot

Rattlers and Gila monsters won’t stand a chance come February 2008 when a new mascot takes over the West as Super Bowl XLII and football frenzy descend on Glendale, Ariz. On Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, Super Bowl Host Committee officials unveiled the new mascot for the big game coming to Glendale—Spike the Super Ball. And with Super Bowl XLI now in the record books and Arizona officially on the clock for Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3, 2008, the friendly ‘Spike’ character was just one of many exciting announcements made during a press conference at the new Glendale Media and Conference Center.

Who Wants It More?

Spike, who is shaped like a real football, made his debut at the press conference decked in his trademark sunglasses, white gloves and blue tennis shoes. He will go on a yearlong tour through the state before making his final pre-game appearance in Glendale on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, where he will help open the NFL Experience theme park.

Officials also unveiled the official countdown clock for Super Bowl XLII as well as the official logo and theme. The Official Super Bowl XLII logo and theme, ‘Who Wants It More?’ as well as its ‘Join the Team’ campaign were also key components kicked off during the recent press conference.

The Host Committee introduced its new “Join the Team” Eye Black campaign aimed to encourage Arizonans to get involved with the Host Committee Super Bowl programs such as its membership club, volunteer program and emerging business program. Everyday people from a wide variety of professions, cultural backgrounds and age groups will be pictured with the Eye Black in campaign materials, demonstrating how every Arizonan can be an important part of the team bringing Super Bowl XLII to Glendale in 2008. Actual members of the Host Committee’s membership club will also appear in the pictures. “Join the Team” posters and billboards featuring the Eye Black now appear around the state.

School children from Phoenix’s NFL Youth Education Town Elementary Academy (Espiritu – the NFL’s Youth Education Town legacy project associated with Arizona’s Super Bowl XXX) assisted Governor Janet Napolitano and Host Committee Chairman Michael Kennedy as they unveiled the Official Arizona Super Bowl XLII Countdown Clock. The large (7.5 feet wide by 3.3 feet tall) countdown clock, which weighs 196 lbs., will be located in Terminal 4 of Sky Harbor International Airport so travelers can count down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until Super Bowl XLII. A smaller version of the clock will also appear in the offices of the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, located in the World Headquarters of Cold Stone Creamery in Scottsdale.

Kennedy also unveiled the NFL’s official logo for Super Bowl XLII. The new logo displays many of the design components that the Host Committee recommended to the NFL in meetings last June. It is composed of the state of Arizona flag and the number 42 in roman numerals. In many instances, the logo and theme (‘Who Wants It More?’) will appear together leading up to the big game.

Watch the Press Conference on Glendale 11

Glendale 11, the city's official cable station, will begin airing the press conference at 3:30 p.m. today (Feb. 7, 2007). The conference will continue to air at various times throughout the week. To view the Glendale 11 weekly program guide, click here.

About The Arizona Super Bowl XLII Host Committee

The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee is a private, not-for-profit Arizona corporation that serves as the main liaison between the National Football League and local efforts. It has the responsibility of implementing Arizona’s plan for Super Bowl XLII culminating with the game on February 3, 2008 at The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. For more information, visit www.azsuperbowl.com.