DALLAS Icy streets, frosty temperatures and challenging travel are forcing venue changes and even reduced admission prices in an attempt to coax reluctant football fans to Super Bowl parties.
Hundreds of people turned out to support the Aces and Angels salute to the troops Wednesday evening.
It makes us very warm, said Army Staff Sgt. Laurie Barnes, who is stationed at Fort Hood. It's nice to know that we're appreciated coming down here.
But the deep freeze is the guest that Super Bowl party planners never invited. Aces and Angels had to find new volunteers.
My Pilot Point and my Celina people have not been able to come, said Lisa Endicott of Endicott and Company. But people have been rallied. Fair Park's been great about referring numbers to us and we've contacted those individuals and they are filling the spaces.
Some outdoor events are scrambling. The two-night XLV Party originally scheduled for a tent on the turf of the Cotton Bowl has been moved indoors after the big top collapsed under the weight of snow and ice and a wicked wind.
All events have been shifted to the nearby Fair Park Coliseum.
Due to the 32-foot ramp that people would have to go through the red carpet to attend the event completely frozen over, said XLV Party spokeswoman Ariana Hajibashi. We looked at the forecast, and Friday is calling for some snow as well, and we decided let's not take chances... let's make Dallas comfortable and safe.
Organizers have also dropped their general admission prices, hoping deals get people through the doors.
The weather has forced cancellation of some events; a Thursday night concert with the Village People that was to have been part of a three-night XLV Party will not take place.
The NFL Experience at the Dallas Convention Center says it will honor unused Wednesday tickets on Thursday as a courtesy to those who were unable to attend because of travel difficulties.
E-mail mdiaz@wfaa.com
