This is Inside the Vegas Huddle, your podcast connection to the events and initiatives
led by the Las Vegas Super Bowl fifty eight Host Committee in advance of the
big game at Allegiance Stadium. Welcome to Inside the Vegas Huddle. Welcome back
to Inside the Vegas Huddle, your podcast dedicated to all things super Bowl fifty
eight. I'm Joanna Bowman with iHeartRadio, and I'm Chris Matthews with Channel eight
KLSTV here in Las Vegas. Boy, Joanna, how exciting is this as
we count down now lesson a month away from Super Bowl Week? It has
flown by. I feel like there were the Holidays in the mix, if
one was in the mix, and now we're here and it's the talk of
the town. So we have the expert on all things super Bowl fifty eight.
Sam Jeoffrey, Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee CEO and President, joining
us again. Welcome Sam. Thank you for having me, so you got
to fill us in on all of the details, all this stuff everybody needs
to know. The countdown is on. We are officially in what we call
the red zone now getting ready to hopefully score the last few touchdowns between now
and February. But yeah, it's kind of a pencils down moment where we've
started looking at uh we kind of put a pause on being creative and saying,
now we got to just start executing on everything that we've planned or laid
out for the past couple of years. So we're definitely in execution mode as
well as, you know, playing firemen a little bit, putting out some
fires here and there. But thirty days it once you at the playoffs,
it happens overnight, So it's gonna be fun. And I was just wondering
as you walk around and as the tourists and and just the locals walk up
and down the strip and kind of sense the Super Bowl feel, what will
we start seeing now in the next couple of weeks. Well, what you're
not seeing is all the contractors and NFL staff that are now boots on the
ground here. People are in town working starting on Monday right now after that
last Raiders game, So we have a lot of stuff going on behind the
scenes. If you were to watch the stadium from day to day from a
window somewhere or a webcam or what have you, you will start to see
it transform. I likened it earlier to what the convention center looks like right
now for cees, what are normally parking lots are going to become structures and
decor and a whole festival, fairgrounds environment around the Every square inch of that
stadium is gonna get filled up over the next few weeks, and the perimeter
will go in place. You're gonna see a couple of things happening around town,
a couple of little enclosures to accommodate things like the CBS set is under
construction now at Blasio. It's gonna be a great backdrop for that week long
worth of broadcast that will happen. CBS is gonna have not just sports,
but news and talk, and I think over forty hours of programming for them
alone, plus accommodating their affiliates to be able to come and do live shots.
And so you're gonna see that pop up. And then it'll probably won't
be until after the championship game that you really start to see a lot of
the decor elements around the city, whether that's wraps on bridges or installations here
and there. You'll see some large roma numerals start to pop up in surprise
locations so there should be a lot of things happening right after the championship game,
but right now you'll get to see it all being built firsthand. So
exciting, so exciting, and you guys have recently rolled out where it's live
now the Note before you Go website that people can check out and what's exactly
on that page and what type of information is provided there. So there's a
couple of ways to get information. One's going to be through the NFL one
Pass app. So if you're going to an event like Super Bowl Experience or
Opening Night, the NFL has an official app that'll have all the information that
you need as an attendee of those events. If you're local and you just
want to know what's happening with little things like word closures and or laning closures,
the build out of the stadium. The Note before you Go platform or
our website will have information on daily updates and maps and information on parking and
different ways to get around. Will be kind of a consolidated site for everything
from public transportation to parking to best ways to get from A to B.
That's awesome. What is that website? Address? Lvsuper Bowl HC dot com,
so LV is in Las Vegas Super Bowl, as in this little event
that we're putting on at HC, as in Hostcommittee dot Com. I love
that that's gonna be very helpful for people because yeah, I think a lot
of people are now just have questions. Yeah, lot locals and you don't
other thing, sam is I didn't realize so that the sweepstakes is still open
where you can Vegas Sports Jackpot's still love that until January twenty eighth. I
believe you still buy your affle ticket for a hundred bucks. And for those
who don't know what it really is, because we've talked about it a couple
times, but maybe they're new to this podcast, they're listening and they'll say,
what is that is the most phenomenal thing ever? I talked about it
io. So we partner with United Way and just about every sports team or
event in Las Vegas and twenty twenty four to you're a pair of tickets,
uh, to everything from starting with Super Bowl, Raiders, every Raiders game,
Nights games, ACES games, the Rodeo, the NASCAR events, Formula
one, the Las Vegas Bowl. Uh. You tested me on the list
because it's such a long list of events. Aviators are in there and one
hundred dollars raffle ticket. One winner wins everything, so hundreds of sporting tickets.
One winner will become the king of Las Vegas and making it, making
it rain with tickets to all their family and friends. So I love that.
Now I know a lot of people, at least some of the chatter
that I've been hearing is there's a lot of people wondering just because of what
happened with f F one. Is the transportation, especially with all the big
events that you are rolling out with Opening night and everything leading up. Ease
people's minds a little bit about that how easy is that going to be for
people to find access to these events? A little different model than F one,
where it was, you know, a major closure of the strip,
which they did a phenomenal job with by the way, but you know those
four days of strip closures was totally different. We have something kind of similar
to the stadium. There's a federally mandated security perimeter that's built at around the
stadium and that'll affect some definitely has some road closures right around the stadium,
but if you're not in that proximity, strip should remain relatively open if you're
trying to get to work your hotel. Yeah, people coming from out of
town. So that so the strip will be nice and convenient. And of
course I've been reading more about the safety measures with that security fencing that's going
around. You talk about that a little bit more. Yeah, I mean,
so for Super Bowl Sunday, there's a there's a lockdown period beforehand bomb
sweeps. It's the safest place in the world to be on Super Bowl,
so sure, I'll put it that way. So, yeah, that that
facilitates a hardened perimeter. That's get that gets built out three hundred feet extending
out three hundred feet from the stadium. So what that means is there is
no parking at the stadium. Every square inch of that within that perimeter is
going to be programmed as either hospitality space, the halftime show spaces, the
CBS production space. Every square inch of the stadium is going to be programmed.
So once that parking goes away, then we have some other options that
will be a lot of drop off and pickup zones for black cars, for
shuttles, for buses. Fan parking definitely available right across the street at the
mandale Ba Garage, so kind of informing everybody that for opening night, especially
Monday night, if you're going to see the two teams for the first time
get interviewed by the media, there's parking over at mandale Ba Garage discounted that
night, as well as a Super Bowl Experience which is there from Wednesday to
Saturday. The big fan event that we do, it's kind of a carnival,
a super Bowl carnival at the Mandali Bay Convention Center. Again, parking
at the Convention Center garage there will be discounted throughout the word week if you're
a ticket holder there. So those are the two big fan events. And
if you're not getting dropped off or taking the deuce or your favorite way to
get to Mandalay Bay, which is uh you know right there south side of
the strip, easy to get to, shouldn't cause a lot of other disruptions
there. It's going to be interesting now to see what happens with now you
mentioned the playoffs are here to start to see who, hey, which are
the teams can make it to Las Vegas. You know we were talking about
Dallas would be phenomenal. America's team Baltimore would be great, I mean Detroit
hasn't been to the I mean there's there's a lot of cool Kansas City and
there's some cool teams that could make Las Vegas even more attractive for these fans.
Well, you know we mentioned Las Vegas. If you back in the
day, if you couldn't go to the game, this was the place to
be. It still is and yeah, every every weekend. So that's what's
gonna make this one really so much so special is the fact that this incredible
weekend every year here in Vegas is not getting complimented with the actual Super Bowl
on top of it. Yeah, we could be more excited about that.
What are you most excited about right now with a month out? I think
a month out right now, anxiety probably outweighs excitement at this point, but
he doesn't show it. Really just excited to see it all come to life.
Everything we've been working on on paper to see how it becomes three D
now, so we've been looking at two D drawings for two years. Now
we start to see things actually being built out. So watching that stadium from
day to day is gonna be really interesting. It's gonna be a lot of
fun. The countdown is on. Sam Joffrey Thank you so much for all
of the insider info countdown to Super Bowl fifty eight. Thanks for having me,
and we're back inside the Vegas Huddle. Chris under a month until the
super Bowl. How that happened? You know, it's he's a two eight,
Sam Joffrey. He's so calm and and this thing has been just wild
for the last two years now and now under a month away from the super
Bowl, super Bowl fifty eight, you know, his head's just spending now.
Well, he did say I love when you asked him about what his
favorite thing is or what he's looking forward to, and he's like, I
just got to get rid of this anxiety. That guy always what's cool as
a cucumber. I don't know how he does it, how he juggles everything.
There's just so many different parts that the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee
does, of course on a national level, but on a local level too.
So joining us right now we have Myisha Boyce, Las Vegas super Bowl
Host Committee Chief Community Engagement Officer. Welcome. Thank you so much. This
is phenomenal. And just so you know, Sam is pretending. Absolutely he
does a good job. He does do a great job. He did win
a Golden globe. So we are very excited to learn more, Maisha about
what you do. We know you are very busy, but if you can
just kind of give everybody listening a little bit insider info into what programs and
what experiences you're part of leading up to the super Bowl. Absolutely, so,
I have the distinct honor of representing the Las Vegas community in liaison,
acting as liaison between them and the NFL to make sure that every corner of
Las Vegas is touched in a positive way with Super Bowl being here. So
the programs that we oversee span from you know, bringing in diverse businesses,
to opportunities related to Super Bowl, from NFL green events for environmental and sustainability,
as well as our Legacy program which gives grants to nonprofits here locally,
and then just a range of corporate social responsibility, which I'm happy to get
into. Sounds like a lot on your plate, It's fun. Yeah,
you can't complain though. I mean to see the impact that it's having on
a daily basis on the people that live here where it care and contribute here.
Seeing that come back to them is a joy. Did you even realize
how much the NFL did in a community prior to the Super Bowl, announcing
they're going to come to Vegas and now preparing all the volunteers, UNLB students
helping out. It just seems like it's been such a great community effort,
which Sam says many times that they was surprised how this community stepped up beyond
his expectations. Absolutely. So. I had the pleasure of seeing kind of
the tail end of Super Bowl in Phoenix to get kind of an idea of
what to expect, but it was nothing compared to actually being on the ground.
And the energy in Las Vegas is palpable. And so you know we
talk about you know, you do a call to action for people to show
up, and that response is just unbelievable. And I think that that's unique.
I think that while other markets are very excited about Super Bowl, I
think Vegas does it best. Yeah. I was going to say a lot
of your volunteer programs and when you guys put out the call for these initiatives,
you've had to cap the list because the response was so great. Yes,
And I've seen that across the board for all of our programs. So
whether it be our Business connect program, we're getting higher numbers than other markets,
whether it be sponsors or those that want to be a part of we're
seeing we're seeing a larger response. So I think it's across the board.
Vegas is excited, very excited. Now, are there any specific programs or
efforts maybe aimed at underprivileged groups within our Vegas community because there are a lot
of nonprofits that need help and need assist in so many organizations. Any that
you can talk about with us today specifically, Yeah, absolutely. I'd say
that all of our programming touches underserved populations, but it's not limited to But
we talk about our partnership with Catholic Charities where we've helped to issue funds for
un housed to make sure that those impacted by some of the movements from Super
Bowl are supported anti trafficking efforts. We have a partnership with Signs of Hope
and they're working with all the local organizations to make sure that there's awareness drawn
there. We also have a partnership with jen Youth, who has focused on
food insecurity and a lot of Title one schools are benefiting from no cost food
carts that students can access in the morning, so I mean, we can
talk about the hundreds of ways that folks are being impacted, but we want
to make sure that underserved populations are represented. Wow. How cool is it
too? When you think about the exposure that you get from the Super Bowl,
from the local businesses, small businesses who are able to get involved in
the nonprofits. I think it's really cool that there's so many eyeballs and now
on this business, this nonprofit, and that's pretty cool. Absolutely. And
I think a lot of times when you look at these big organizations, you
think people are always seeking funding, are always seeking some type of financial support.
But what we are seeing on community is can you shine a light on
us? And what I think Super Bowl does that's unique is that everybody's watching.
Every time the name is mentioned, you know, it turns ahead.
And I think that that's really important and very valuable. There's a lot of
people doing good work at a grassroots level that sometimes just shining in that spotlight
their way can help them to, you know, take off for the next
ten years. Is there a specific event or initiative that you have seen the
locals really like just get very excited for and go all in about. I
think, well, maybe it's because it's my personal passion. But small diverse
business is just on fire. To see these local mom and pop shops getting
tailgate contracts and showing up to you know, some of the VIP parties providing
linens and flowers and photography and like just to see that, you know,
five person entity, you know in some of the most valuable places. I
think when you look at those Super Bowl you know, the whole scheme of
Super Bowl, like, I want to be there. You're seeing small business
there, and I believe that small business is backbone of economy. It helped
to get us through, you know, our recent troubles with COVID, and
I'm like, it's so exciting to see them rewarded at this level something so
big. That's huge. She has a great job because she gets to see
all the smiles and all the happy people, and the people are thrilled with
the opportunities. I'm how great would that be every small business? Hey,
we get this, we're doing this. Thanks for picking up you know whatever.
How great is that? It's phenomenal And with you know the nonprofits,
Yeah, like to change lives and to have an opportunity to have any kind
of input on what might impact somebody that lives here in a positive way.
It is the best job, so there's no complaining on the end. That's
incredible. Can you talk to us a little bit about the Legacy Grant?
Absolutely, so. Our NFL Legacy Program is one that is implemented in every
host city for all Super Bowls. Ltimately, the NFL Foundation partners with the
host of the Host Committee to identify local nonprofits that should receive matching funds to
increase efforts that are being done, but not just an effort to you know,
sell food tomorrow that's going to be gone, but something that is going
to have impact years and years down the line. So that's why it's called
the Legacy Program. It is how can we pour into the local host community
and see that impact the next time the Super Bowl returns. And so with
our Legacy Program, it we had our pregame grant recipients already issued some awards
and those are from some of our high impact nonprofits that have been identified by
some of the partner organizations of the Host Committee. We've already been able to
match one point two million in funding, and so now we're looking to give
away another one point eight million in grant funding through competitive grants, and these
are non restrictive, which is very very rare. A lot of times when
nonprofits are going after grant opportunities, they're very restrictive and they can only be
used for certain things. Sure, what NFL Foundation Host Committee are partnering to
do is to identify those that are making a difference in this community and pouring
into them immediately without restriction. You know, there's so many terrific people here
in Las Vegas and my issue, you're one of them. Because the NFL
looked at you right and said, hey, we can use you down the
road at some different events, right, tell us about that. That's pretty
cool. Well, I wonder if it's top secret though right now maybe I
don't know. I have no idea what he's talking about. I know is
that what is going on with the Las Ages Super Bowl Host Committee and with
Super Bowl fifty eight big impacts. I want to talk a little bit more
about the Legacy Grant because in studio with my Isha right now is Cynthia Lewis,
Special project manager for the Just One Project. Welcome, Hi, thank
you so much for having me. We are so excited to talk with you.
A little bit, because we know that you have benefited from NFL legacy
grants, if you first and foremost can tell everybody a little bit more about
the Just One Project and then how that grant has affected your organization. Absolutely.
So, the Just One Project is a local five oh one C three.
We've been around a brick and mortar for just five short years, but
our growth has been absolutely tremendous. Our mission is to increase access to food
resources and services to build a stronger and healthier into a more connected community.
That's awesome, Yeah, that's wonderful. So the legacy grant, what did
that mean to the Just One Project? It's everything, especially when you have,
you know, an organization like the freaking super Bowl, you know,
like we can say freaking on a podcast. So I mean there's you know
a lot of a lot of times people don't know us yet. We're still
tiny, but we're very mighty. You know. We started again five years
ago. We served our very first client in February of twenty nineteen, and
then our last year's number for twenty twenty two because we're working on our report.
Sure for this past year, we serve two hundred and forty three thousand
clients and so you know, our growth has been insane, but again tiny
but mighty. A lot of people don't know about us, and so when
an organization such as the super Bowl, can you know, kind of spotlight
us and show us to those who wouldn't know who we are. It's important
and it's huge and it's makes such a big difference for our organization. So
the grant that we have received, that was a match from Bank of Nevada,
which was fantastic nice. I mean, we're able to use those into
our programs to just continue serving. And our biggest thing right now is building
sustainability. No, you mentioned sustainability with the super Bowl, the lasting impressions
with how big this is. I mean, this will extend beyond all super
Bowls over it's done, It'll go on be bigger and better that yeah,
absolutely so, I mean combining funds with the moneys we've already received, and
if we were to be awarded the you know, more legacy fending would I
mean it would be huge for us. And Chris brought up a good point
about that lasting impact of the host Committee's assistance with your organization. How do
you envision that going on? After the super Bowl leaves town, we want
to put roots here again. You know, for the last five years we
have been renting space, and you know, it would be fantastic to have,
you know, a home of our own where we can you know,
do our magic and create our magic now. So that's that would be big
for us. You know, you always hear Las Vegas it's a it's a
city and what two point three or two point five million, yet it always
has kind of that small town feel where you have my back, I got
your back, let's help you do you get the sense the absolutely. So
I was actually born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, so kind of like
a smaller scale city. And I've been in Vegas for twenty one years,
and so as a local, I always tell people as a local, it's
like I'm in Ohio because everyone and sees each other, you have your backs.
Like I'll be at the movies and I will see my friend's kid and
I will say I'll shoot a text like, hey, you know, Casey
is here, and she's like, yeah, it's all good, but thanks
for you know, thanks for watching out. Or I'll get a text like
I see your daughter, you know, walking around downtown summerlant is she is
she good? Yeah, she's fine. She's with her friends. You know,
it's nice to have that that connection amongst your your friends and in our
in our town. And then we just get to have the Strip as our
backyard and have all the funness of of you know what Vegas has to offer
here. Big city, small town. Yeah yeah, big city, small
town vibes. Yeah. Absolutely, It's fun to see, Uh, some
of the nonprofits be affected by you know what the Last Vegas super Bowl Host
Committee has done and the Legacy Grant. Uh, And it's incredible and I
know it means so much to so many nonprofit organizations. Is there a specific
message or thank you that you would want to say, uh to the Las
Vegas super Bowl Host Committee and the Legacy Grant. Oh? Absolutely, I
mean, we are absolutely grateful for what we have received thus far. And
again, if chosen for the Legacy Grant, you can definitely count on us
to put that money towards good use for our community. You know, our
three pillars that we have been you know, we focused on food and security
first, and then the county actually came to us to do housing, which
was fantastic and amazing and that has really grown. And then with our youth
program to be able to grow that that program would be huge. It's such
a special, special little secret that we have, and just to build for
our clients to have self sufficiency and sustainability is really important. So I guess
for both of you, what are you guys hearing out in the community now
with a month away from the Super Bowl, from your friends, from your
associates, from the different people that run different nonprofits. What's kind of the
buzz out there that you're hearing. I think for me, everybody wants to
be a part of it, and so we're trying to find ways to carve
out a corner for everyone. And so when we hear from somebody in community,
I haven't had that experience yet. We're trying to make sure that we
use these you know, last last several weeks to make sure that they are
And so I think that for me, the buzz is more Super Bowls coming.
How can I be a part of it if you haven't been a part
of it already? Where can we carve out a niche for you? I
love that you're hearing anything out there, Oh for sure, of course,
especially because I live here, so all my friends that don't live here and
they're like, oh my gosh, can I come? Do you have an
extra room? Can I stay with you? Do you have tickets? A
night's a deal? But it's really cool. A lot of organizations are you
know, getting out there and they're coming, you know, to est to
volunteer, and there's a lot of groups that are coming into town specifically for
Super Bowl and they are looking for ways to get involved and help the community
while they're here, which is really awesome. Nice. So we've got some
team building experiences that we have built out specifically for organization that are traveling here
for the Super Bowl. Are you excited about the halftime entertainment? Yes,
that's my that's my high school crush. Shout out to a mister Raymond.
I'm movid. There's just so much collaboration and excitement leading up to Super Bowl
fifty eight right around the corner a month away. Cynthia Lewis, Special project
manager for the Just One Project. Thank you so much for joining us today.
And Myisha Boyce at Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee, Chief Community Engagement
Officer, thank you for your time and info. My honor and pleasure.
Thank you for having us. Thank you to the Super Bowl fifty eight Host
Committee sponsors, Caesar's Entertainment, Inner Mountain Health, Howard Hughes, sand Manuel
Band of Mission Indians. We'd also like to thank our partners MGM Rewards,
Allegian, UFC, PNC Bank, FIBO, iHeartMedia, Bank of Nevada,
Bank of America, MSG, sphere Vichy and Southwest Gas