Super Bowl buildup to be subdued this year

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 24 (UPI) -- This year's Super Bowl buildup will have a different feel since it is taking place against a backdrop of a souring U.S. economy, analysts say.

The Feb. 1 football game between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers in Tampa will not have the pre-game buildup it would otherwise have had if economic times were brighter, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

The newspaper noted that Playboy and Sports Illustrated have announced they will not hold their annual Super Bowl parties, and a celebrity golf tournament and party with Tampa Bay Buccaneers players Warrick Dunn and Derrick Brooks as hosts was canceled because of a lack of sponsors.

Football officials say they are unsure how deeply the country's financial woes will affect the event.

"Obviously, a number of teams have taken steps to control their costs," New York Giants owner John Mara said. "A number of teams have made decisions about ticket prices. But we still don't know what the total picture is, and I don't think we will for some time."

The Post reported that the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers said visitors to the Tampa area this week are expected to spend about $150 million, or about 20 percent less than they would have spent if the economy were better.

"No one is immune, not the NFL or the Super Bowl or the host committee," said Reid Sigmon, the executive director of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee.