Cold or not, Jersey City is expected to host two events to welcome the contenders in the upcoming Super Bowl. Both teams are staying at hotels in Jersey City and are expected to arrive on Sunday, Jan. 26.
A limited number of passes to Liberty Science Center will be handed out, and there will be a chance for children to become a deputy mayor for a day.
Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the City of Jersey City, in partnership with the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, will welcome the two Super Bowl teams to Jersey City at two separate public welcoming events.
These will feature activities for children that include a Field Goal Kicking Contest, music, giveaways, hot chocolate, and more, with participants able to watch as the teams make their way to their hotels.
Children attending both events will be entered into a drawing to “serve” as deputy mayor for a day alongside Mayor Fulop. One child will be chosen from each event. Additionally, 100 Liberty Science Center passes will be distributed at the 8 p.m. Seahawks welcoming event.
The Denver Broncos are expected to arrive first at around 4 p.m. to the Hyatt Hotel, 2 Exchange Place. Fans will gather outside the hotel where the official welcoming event will take place.
The Seattle Seahawks are expected to arrive around 8 p.m. at the Westin Hotel, 479 Washington Blvd., where the second event will take place outside.
“We are excited to welcome the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, as well as all of their fans, to Jersey City.” – Mayor Steven Fulop
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“We are excited to welcome the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, as well as all of their fans, to Jersey City,” said Mayor Fulop. “Working closely with the NFL has been a great opportunity to showcase Jersey City as we prepare for the nation’s largest annual sporting event. We hope that everyone attending the Super Bowl experiences everything Jersey City has to offer.”
In fashion for the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl Host Committee and the multiple hosts of Fashion Week hope to spotlight imaginative talent while giving industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts a glimpse into Jersey City’s vibrant social and cultural scene, which include educated, influential and fashion forward individuals who occupy New York, Jersey City and neighboring cities.
Desha Lang Jackson Give to Live Community Foundation, Give to Live Foundation, The Town of Secaucus, Atlantic City Fashion Week, and BK Style Foundation, have collaborated to restore and rebuild the community by featuring art and fashion by emerging designers to raise money for local non-profits, while giving industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts a glimpse into Jersey City’s vibrant social and cultural scene.
The 2014 Football Fashion Week is supported by Mayor Fulop, the City Council, and the Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs. The events actually started on Jan. 23 at the Boys and Girls Club in Hoboken and were scheduled continue on Friday night with Jan. 24, at the Pole Position Raceway in Jersey City.
On Jan. 25, the celebration was to continue at the VB3 Lounge, 475 Washington Blvd. in Jersey City from 7 to 10 p.m. sponsored by Mister Cognac, Paul Jones of JTE Spirits, presenting a collection of the world finest cognacs along with dinner.
Ready for any emergency
On Jan. 21, the NJ Department of Public Safety, in collaboration with the Office of Emergency Management, performed a preparedness exercise regarding events in Jersey City during Super Bowl Week at the OEM Command Center, 715 Summit Ave., where early in the week many emergency vehicles were housed.
Although set in the actual command center and including all of the key people that would be involved in overseeing operations during that week, this was largely a table top event, as each official from federal, state, county and local offices explained what would happen if a weather or terrorist event should take place
The exercise was designed to test the city’s ability to respond to multiple scenarios, including law enforcement and weather incidents, and will involve key public safety and city officials as well as representatives from United Water, PSE&G and the private business sector. The scenarios will only be released to the participants that morning and all officials will be expected to respond in real time.
While Super Bowl XLVII will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday, Feb. 2, both NFL teams are staying in Jersey City hotels for the week leading up to what may consider the biggest annual sporting event in the nation. This will be the first Super Bowl played outdoors in a cold weather area.
Officials explored how players would be transported in the event of a major weather event, a small irony since a heavy snow was already falling outside while the officials outlined routes and plans for transport. Another variation of this included what various agencies would do in the event of a water main break near the hotels where the players were staying and how the guests would be accommodated during the time it took to make a repair.
Some of these plans also incorporated others unrelated to the Super Bowl, such as residents and homeless that might be affected by such natural disasters.
The terrorist scenario was based on actual events that had taken place elsewhere in the country and world and relocated these to Jersey City. These involved possible threats to the hotels, as well as local malls, and how each agency would respond to the threat.
“Jersey City is gearing up to welcome to the two Super Bowl teams and part of that means being ready from a public safety and operational standpoint,” Fulop said. “We have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of our residents, the teams and all visitors to our city. This drill will help us prepare for scenarios that could arise that week and develop strategies to best respond.”
For more Super Bowl event updates, go to our website, www.hudsonreporter.com.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.