Show off your team spirit in this officially licensed Reebok® NFL® New Orleans Saints Recline Lining men's shoe.Tickets to Super Bowl XLIII may be out of your reach this year, but there is a way to take in the Super Bowl buzz and still pay your rent. Here's the finest list of the top 10 FREE things to enjoy the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa. All free. You like free, don't you?
1. Take a walk around Raymond James Stadium The area around Raymond James Stadium will be hot with vendors, press conferences, the NFL Experience and more. The crazy fans will be there and you'll be at the epicenter of the action.
2. Super Tailgate Throwdown Across from Raymond James Stadium is Al Lopez Park. The park will be filled with live entertainment, concerts, an interactive kid zone and more. There's lots of room for the kids to blow off steam and close enough to park here for free if you take that walk around Raymond James Stadium. January 29 - 31 from 10 am to 7 pm.
3. SuperLX Live! Jazz in Ybor City Jazz in historic Ybor City! Hit the Latin area of Tampa and enjoy Jazz music, the smell of cigars and cool shops. If you have a few dollars we recommend getting a Cuban sandwich at Carmines.
4. Lights On Tampa 2009 Check out Tampa in its best light. Beginning in mid January, Lights On Tampa will create art out of lights on many downtown buildings. Parking garages, the Tampa Convention Center, the Riverwalk, the St. Pete Times Forum and more will be transformed into art. In Cotoanchobee Park, behind the St. Pete Times Forum, a giant football becomes a mood ring. The best part is the music that accompanies the lights. It's really cool and it's free. lightsontampa.org/
5. Crash the ESPN the Magazine's NEXT Party A vacant lot in downtown Tampa will be transformed into a lush tent filled with lounges, bars and celebrities. Celebs will walk the red carpet and you can be there to yell out there names. They really like that. January 30, 2009
6. Hit the NFL Experience Clinic Field Remember when you had to play flag football? Kids from the Tampa Bay area will gather at the clinic field, adjacent to Raymond James Stadium, for a NFL Flag Football clinic. The scrimmages and clinics are open to the public after 4:30 on Saturday. There are other events at the clinic field including the Super Bowl Cheer and Dance Competition on Saturday, January 24th, 2009.
7. Manatee Time Out If you need a break from all things Super Bowl, think about visiting the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach. It's a short drive south of Tampa and you'll get to see hundreds of manatees. There's room to walk and enjoy some of Florida's natural beauty. It's free and open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Go to the TECO web site for more information.
8. NFL History from Getty Images So we lied, this event isn't free. But it's almost free so we're counting it. For $4 you can take a look at some awesome images of Super Bowl and NFL games. It will be worth the $4, and the money goes to the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts so you can walk away feeling good about your donation. fmopa.org/
9. ESPN the Magazine NEXT Day Tailgate Party Live performances by Sean Kingston, celebrity volleyball and more. It's located in downtown Tampa at the corner of S. Morgan St. and Bell St. from noon to 5 pm on January 31st, 2009.
10. The Ultimate Tailgate Pawty This Super Bowl event is for the dogs. Check out canine agility shows, games contests and more to benefit the Humane Society of Pinellas County. It's free, but if you can spare a dime for the pups the world will be better.
Bonus ALMOST FREE events:
Lawn Ticket to the Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash at Ford Amphitheater $20
Super Bowl Breakfast at University of South Florida $20
NFLX, the NFL Experience After Dark at Raymond James Stadium $10
Super Bowl Gospel Celebration; at University of South Florida $35
You can enjoy the Super Bowl in this not-so-super economy. It's about the fun and spirit, not the tickets. But if you should happen to come across a pair of tickets... you lucky dog!
C. Babbitt is president of KnowYourVenue.com. Know Your Venue.com features venues in the United States. Enhanced information on parking, seating, costs and our most popular feature, restaurants and hotels near the venue.
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