TOUCHDOWN Tampa Bay: The August Edition of the #TampaBayLV E-Newsletter

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE TAMPA BAY SUPER BOWL LV HOST COMMITTEE

AUGUST 2020

IN THIS EDITION Features 3 Meet The Krewe

Get to know Jenna Grooms, Director of Host Committee Events for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee.

5 Getting involved

Registration to be a Community Ambassador is NOW LIVE! Don’t miss out on your chance to be involved with #TampaBayLV. Also, read about updates from the Business Connect program!

6 Major announcements

Gain insight on what was announceed during our press conference in conjuction with the NFL!

7 Forever 55: Our Legacy Initiative

Read more on the Host Committee’s primary social legacy initiative, put into place to ensure Super Bowl LV leaves an everlasting impression on our community long after the big game is over.

9 Super Bowl Experience

Experience all the fun throughout the week surrounding Super Bowl LV! The Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee and NFL unveil their plans for Super Bowl Experience.

13 Teaming Up

The Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee announce two new strategic partnerships with Ashley HomeStore and ReliaQuest!

14 Tampa Bay 55 Podcast

See the new guests that have made virtual appearances on the Tampa Bay 55 podcast.

15 #TampaBaylv virtual game ball initiative Learn how to “Share the LoVe” by recognizing community heroes that are giving back!

16 In the media

Discover what people are saying on social media about #TampaBayLV!

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Our team is a passionate group of MVPs who are ready to propel the #TampaBayLV movement forward forever.

“Together, we will focus on raising the bar for the fan experience in the region, implementing lasting legacy initiatives, showcasing the destination’s recent progress and exciting future, all while delivering a fifth worldclass Super Bowl.” - Rob Higgins

Jenna Grooms

Director of Host Committee Events

Jenna Grooms is the Director of Host Committee Events for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee. Her main focus will be the management and production of the Host Committee’s portion of Super Bowl Experience. She will also oversee operations and production of several other key Host Committee events throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Jenna joined the Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC) in 2016 as the organization’s Event Development Institute Manager and in 2019 was elevated to Director. Jenna’s main responsibility is growing the Event Development Institute (EDI), the TBSC’s full-service, in-house marketing and events agency that specializes in growing new and existing events and brands nationwide.

Jenna graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2012 with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Sociology. Grooms has spent most of her career in the sports and entertainment industry, beginning with several marketing internships with small, Tampa-based agencies. After completing an internship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Special Events and Game Operations Department in 2011, she was hired full time in 2012, spending four years as the Events and Entertainment Coordinator. Currently, Jenna is involved in several community-based programs and events, including serving as a mentor for the Positive Coaching Alliance of Tampa Bay and USF Muma College of Business and participating as an active member of the Events Committee for both the Women in Sports and Events (WISE) Tampa Bay Chapter and the St. Petersburg Police Athletic League.

As the Director of Host Committee Events for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, what is your primary responsibility and what excites you most about the role you will play in helping bring Super Bowl LV to life in Tampa Bay? Much like the rest of our Host Committee staff, I will wear multiple hats when it comes to Super Bowl responsibilities; however, my main focus will be planning, managing and ultimately producing a portion of Super Bowl Experience, the NFL’s largest sanctioned fan festival. As you can imagine, we’ve been working on the planning for Super Bowl Experience and other Host Committee events for over a year, so it’s very exciting to see some of the plans and ideas come to life now that the game is getting closer. For me, there’s a sense of thrill involved in navigating through the concept phase and getting to a point where the pieces are coming together to form what will be an incredible resume of events for both the visiting fans and locals to enjoy. Tampa Bay is a special community, so I feel very lucky to be able to help make it shine on one of the biggest of stages in February.

You have led the Event Development Institute (EDI), a DBA of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, for the last four and a half years.

For those who are not aware, what is EDI and how has the mission and scope of services morphed over the years?

When I first started at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission in 2016, the Event Development Institute was an event incubator that played matchmaker for up-and-coming event concepts to a series of industry specialists in order to generate annual, revenue-generating events. Now, due to the strengths of our incredibly talented team, EDI is able to offer a suite of in-house services that were traditionally outsourced. As a result, EDI has gained a reputation for being a one-stop-shop that functions more like a full-service events and marketing agency. While our mission to bring event ideas to life remains unchanged, EDI has consistently grown and adapted in order to meet the demands of our clients and follow industry trends. Fast forward to today, and EDI’s client resume includes brands such as the College Football Playoff, Under Armour, the NCAA, Wheels Up and the National Hockey League, to name a few. I couldn’t be more proud of our team and the growth that EDI has experienced thus far, but I’m even more excited about what the future holds!

Before your role with the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, you spent four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their events department. What does it mean to your personally to be working side by side with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NFL to bring a fifth Super Bowl to the Tampa Bay community?

I started as an intern with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their Events and Entertainment Department at 20 years old, so I essentially grew up in that office and owe a lot of my professional experience and development to that organization. To be able to draw on the skills I learned while working for the Bucs and apply them to the planning for Super Bowl LV as a member of the Host Committee is truly a full-circle situation for me personally. It honestly feels like I am getting to plan the biggest party alongside all of my best friends, so being able to call that “work” is a dream come true! The Bucs were incredible partners in the effort to bring a fifth Super Bowl to Tampa Bay and now that we are only about six months out from the big game, it’s all hands on deck for Team Tampa Bay. Having grown up in the Tampa Bay area, what do you hope visitors and fans will remember most about their Super Bowl LV experience?

When Tampa hosted the Super Bowl in 2001, I remember being in awe of the spectacle of it all – the Stealth Bomber’s practice flyovers that went over my family’s house, the branding and billboards that popped up all over the city, and the fact that my parents let my brother and I skip school to go to Super Bowl Village at the Stadium - as a young, die-hard football fan, it was overwhelmingly cool to see it all unfold in my hometown. Tampa Bay has such a rich history and culture, but it has also experienced incredible growth since then, so I really can’t wait for visiting fans to experience a totally reimagined region. From the moment they touch down at one of the best airports in the country and step out into our beautiful weather, I hope they are able to feel the passion that this community has for hosting first-class events as they leave town after the big game. At the end of the day, that is what it is all about.

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Getting involved BUSINESS CONNECT update Three Business Connect vendors who successfully competed for, won and worked Super Bowl event contracts in Miami will share their experiences with Tampa vendors in an upcoming webinar entitled, “Best Practices from Super Bowl LIV.” The panel discussion is a part of the Super Bowl LV Business Connect Summer Webinar Series. The Miami vendors will also discuss how they’ve leveraged their Super Bowl opportunities to grow their companies. As we approach fall, the Business Connect team will continue to create relevant content to push our vendors to the next level, while helping them navigate procurement opportunities with Super Bowl LV. Additionally, the team is working to assess the effect COVID-19 has had on the health and capacity of member companies. Business Connect is sharing all service and product updates with NFL contractors along with newly identified local diverse PPE providers, in an effort to maximize procurement opportunities. Vendors are continuing to receive both invitations to bid (ITB) or requests for proposals (RFPs) that align with Super Bowl LV events. We anticipate that engagement between our vendors and NFL contractors will escalate over the next several weeks as the NFL season kicks off and we work towards February 2021.

For more information on the Super Bowl LV Business Connect Program: LaKendria Robinson, Director of Business Connect & Community Outreach Email: BusinessConnect@TampaBayLV.com

COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

Registration has officially launched!

We are looking for individuals who are friendly, reliable, passionate, team-oriented and eager to show off tampa Bay during super bowl lv week!

ABOUT THE TAMPA BAY SUPER BOWL LV COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM: In 2021, the Super Bowl is set to return to the Tampa Bay community for the fifth time. As with all major events, the Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Tampa Bay Sports Commission and NFL will rely heavily on the volunteer and community support to help execute and elevate the overall event. This is your opportunity to assist with an incredible week of Super Bowl fun. A multitude of volunteer shifts will be available throughout the championship week.

REGISTER TODAY!

FAQ’S

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS In just under 200 days, Super Bowl LV will make its way to Tampa Bay for the fifth time! On Tuesday, August 11, 2020, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee held a press conference in conjunction with the National Football League to unveil Super Bowl Experience, our social legacy initiative, “Forever 55,” and partnership announcements. “We are thrilled to be able to officially announce our blendedmodel, Super Bowl Experience in tandem with our friends at the NFL, in addition to our primary social legacy initiative, Forever 55, along with new host committee strategic partners today. We look forward to showcasing our hometown’s incredible growth, unwavering resiliency and very bright future through our community’s host movement leading up to and during Super Bowl LV on February 7th, 2021. We are confident that the positive impacts of this event will be felt in our community for many years to come,” said Rob Higgins, President/CEO, Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee.

Peter O’Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President of Club Business and League Events, formally unveiled the plans for Super Bowl Experience, a fan event that provides guests the opportunity to participate in activations, shop NFL merchandise, and more. “We look forward to working with the Tampa Bay Host Committee on creating memorable moments that will celebrate Super Bowl LV and bring the community of Tampa together in a safe and meaningful way,” said O’Reilly. “We are working hard to ensure all activities during Super Bowl LV week will adhere to the latest public safety guidelines set by medical and public health officials, as safety is our number one priority.” This will be the FIRSTEVER Super Bowl Experience that will be all outdoors as well as FREE to attendees. Go to page nine for more information on this signature fan event!

In addition, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), community and civic partners, is pleased to unveil “Forever 55,” the local host committee’s primary social legacy initiative. “Forever 55” will focus on six pillars that represent our commitment to moving our community Forward. Forever. Together. “To me, the Super Bowl provides an amazing platform on the grandest of stages, to leave an everlasting impact on our community long after the confetti settles,” said Derrick Brooks, Co-Chairman of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee. “Along with the NFL, we are committed to playing an active role in inspiring and creating significant change.” For more information on Forever 55, turn to page seven.

We also made two partnership announcements in Ashley HomeStore and ReliaQuest. “Hosting the biggest game on the grandest of stages requires an enormous amount of local support from both the public and private sector, and our community partners have proven time and time again that they will do everything in their power to prove that major events in our community are a huge success,” said Will Weatherford, Co-Chair of the Super Bowl LV Host Committee. “There are many opportunities for the local business community to engage and support our hosting effort and I’m proud to share that the private sector has stepped up in a big way, with two new strategic partners being announced today, Ashley HomeStore and ReliaQuest.” Read more about these new partnerships on page 13.

click here for a full recap of our press conference!

7 TOUCHDOWN TAMPA BAY

Leaving a Legacy While the economic impact of hosting the Super Bowl is clearly significant, it’s the Super Bowl’s social impact that will leave an eternal legacy. Super Bowl Week is more than the NFL’s championship game, celebrity-filled parties, and endless activities for fans. It provides one of the world’s largest social platforms to promote initiatives that are most important to our community. As a result, Tampa Bay will experience and benefit from transformative changes for years to come. While there will be programs that impact numerous causes and social issues, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee is pleased to unveil “Forever 55”, the local host committee’s primary social legacy initiative representing the everlasting impression that Super Bowl LV will have on our community.

Together, the NFL and the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee alongside community and civic partners will collaborate in an intentional and strategic way to create, support and implement long-lasting initiatives throughout Tampa Bay. A $2 million investment by the local Host Committee and the NFL, via the NFL Foundation, will focus on pillars that best reflect the needs of our community. Five Pillars represent the five Super Bowls hosted in Tampa Bay and the addition of the sixth pillar signifies how our community will continue to move “Forward. Forever. Together.”

First 1000 days: Fuel:

Early Childhood Education

Food Insecurity

Families: Fitness: Future:

at-risk, UNSHELTERED AND undeRserved

health and wellness

Sustainability

Further:

Systemic justice

FOR MORE INFORMATION: TAMPABAYLV.COM/FOREVER-55

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As one of the signature events surrounding Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay, Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s, will be free and open to the public beginning Friday, January 29 and will span 2.7 miles, including the Tampa Riverwalk. The event will take place within waterfront parks along the Riverwalk and feature concerts, food and beverage, sponsor activations, NFL Shop presented by Visa and more.

Super Bowl LV will be the first time that Super Bowl Experience will be free for all attendees and produced jointly by the NFL and Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee.

Julian B. Lane Park will house the NFL’s free football theme park celebrating Super Bowl LV. Fans will have the opportunity to collect Player and Legend autographs, take photos with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and immerse themselves in a variety of exhibits and interactive games. Fans will also be able to enjoy the youthfocused Play 60 Zone and other family-friendly activities throughout Super Bowl Experience.

Other parks along the Riverwalk will feature a variety of experiential opportunities including local food and beverage, music and entertainment, health and fitness activities, activation zones, and more. The Riverwalk will transform into a Super Bowl amusement park showcasing the destination’s culture and experiences of Tampa Bay.

NFL.COM/TAMPASB

REGISTER NOW TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AROUND ALL OF THE UPCOMING EVENTS COMING TO TAMPA BAY FOR SUPER BOWL LV!

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Onteaming the clup! ck While support from both the NFL and the local hosting efforts is crucial to the success of Super Bowl week, the backing from the local community is vital. The Tampa Bay LV Host Committee announced today two new founding partners in Ashley HomeStore and ReliaQuest, both headquartered here locally in Tampa, FL.

Ashley HomeStore’s vision and commitment to the community coincides with Tampa Bay and the Super Bowl Host Committee’s: “Getting Better – Together.” Ashley HomeStore has big plans to continue bringing the love of HOME to Tampa – including ongoing efforts to enrich their communities and reduce their energy footprint. The Ashley team looks forward to an amazing event and showcasing the beautiful community of Tampa Bay through private events, a footprint at Super Bowl Experience, and so much more.

“Ashley HomeStore is so excited to be part of the host committee for Super Bowl LV. This event not only brings excitement to our city, but it also has a positive economic impact on the Tampa community,” said Todd Wanek, President & CEO, Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. “We look forward to showcasing our home, the city of Tampa, and bringing the love of home to all our guests.”

ReliaQuest is a cyber security technology company trusted by the world’s leading brands. ReliaQuest will become the official cybersecurity partner of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee. This is the first time a host city has had a cyber security subcommittee and ReliaQuest will chair it. ReliaQuest will secure the overall event from a command center located inside the Super Bowl Experience leveraging its SaaS security platform GreyMatter to monitor the environment in real-time. In addition to this designation, ReliaQuest will help enhance the Community Ambassador Program, the host committee’s volunteer initiative by securing the software site and workforce data collected during the application process. The partnership will include increased visibility into potential threats and collaboration to increase the strength of its controls.

“ReliaQuest is extremely excited to be the official cybersecurity partner of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee and chair its cyber security subcommittee, helping to secure this world-class event,” exclaimed Brian Murphy, CEO and Founder of ReliaQuest. “We are excited about the opportunity that a Super Bowl brings to the Tampa Bay area, not just for our companies, our businesses, and the local economic impact, but also to introduce the world to how great it is to live, work, and grow businesses here in Tampa Bay. We can’t wait to get to work and continue the process.”

For more information on the local host effort for Super Bowl LV and the host committee’s strategic partnerships, visit our official website at TampaBayLV.com.

13 TOUCHDOWN TAMPA BAY

the Tampa Bay 55 Podcast Long before the teams arrive at Raymond James Stadium, countless hours of work are dedicated to making the big game and the amazing spectacle that accompanies it an overwhelming success! Tampa Bay 55, a new podcast, is YOUR exclusive all-access behind-the-scenes pass, with the deal makers, hand shakers, celebrities, athletes and more.

The podcast is hosted by Ryan Bass, anchor at 10 Tampa Bay, WTSP -- the CBS affiliated television station in the Tampa Bay area and Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and president/CEO of the Super Bowl LV Host Committee. They will be joined by special guests weekly as we countdown to the main event in the heart of Florida’s gorgeous west coast!

New episodes will be released weekly. Super Bowl LV will be broadcast nationally on CBS.

New on the pod:

Episode 26: » CAMERON BRATE, Tight End for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Episode 27: » LISA URBAN, Director of The Community ambassador program for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee episode 28: » ken elder, vice president of partnerships for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee episode 29: » Jeff Scott, head coach for university of south florida football episode 29: » Tino Martinez, former mlb all-star Click the icon to listen!

WE WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS! CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOURS.

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During these unprecedented times, members of #TeamTampaBay are coming together like never before to help raise up our community.

Today, we are launching our virtual #TampaBayLV Game Ball campaign to recognize and honor the selfless individuals and organizations that are putting our community first. Game balls are traditionally given in sports to award MVP’s, great leadership or outstanding performances.

Help us SHARE THE LOVE and deliver virtual game balls to deserving recipients by following us on social and by submitting nominations using our hashtag, #SHARETBLV, as we honor our hometown heroes for their generous acts of kindness.

How to nominate community MVP’s 1. Help identify individuals and organizations that are out helping by going above and beyond during these unprecedented times.

2. Share their story on Twitter and tag @TampaBayLV and #SHARETBLV, or...

3. Reply or comment to an already shared story by tagging @TampaBayLV and using #SHARETBLV.

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In the Media

See what people are saying about #TampaBayLV on social media! Tag us and use the hashtag, #TampaBayLV, to show your support for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee. Maybe you could end up being showcased in TOUCHDOWN Tampa Bay, too!

Follow Our Flow @TAMPABAYLV

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