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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Sport
Susannah Bryan, Andrew Boryga And Brooke Baitinger

Super Bowl brings crazy traffic, celebrity sightings and $12 beer

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ We've got Pitbull. J.Lo and Shakira.

Oh yeah, and the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.

Amped up football fans descended on Miami for the nation's biggest sporting event of the year _ though one man was spotted taking what some were calling a $7,000 nap from his stadium seat.

During a ceremony celebrating NFL greats, fans cheered for nearly every name mentioned. The only person booed by the entire stadium was Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots.

The stadium seats were full of red for both teams, but Chiefs Nation, many in feather headdresses, seemed to be the louder bunch. During Demi Lovato's rendition of the national anthem, they remixed the lyrics "home of the brave" and sang "home of the CHIEFS!"

Now about that traffic, the kind outside the stadium.

It's downright insane on any day in South Florida, but add tourist season AND Super Bowl Sunday and you've got yourself one gargantuan gridlock both before and after the game.

Law enforcement officials were out in force Sunday, patrolling any and all highways leading to Hard Rock Stadium.

Fans started heading to the stadium as early as 1 p.m., more than five hours before kickoff.

By 4:30 p.m., traffic to the stadium was growing thick and Florida's Turnpike was at a standstill near the stadium exit.

After a wet weekend, the afternoon weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky.

Before the game, thousands of Chiefs and Niners fans were milling around the tailgating sections set up near the entrances to the stadium.

Nearby, several stages hosted dance-off contests or musicians performing pop-song covers and salsa hits.

One stage was occupied by 154 students from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High marching band.

"They're living the dream," said Steve Rivero, their band director.

Over at a glass box put up by wine sponsor Babe, fans clutched at the air frantically for 15-second spurts. Their prize: Real money mixed in with fake money.

The final winner walked away with a grand total of $2.

Beer was not cheap.

A can of Bud Light Fans was priced at $12. A can of Stella, $18. A daiquiri, $20.

Then there was the equally pricey food. Tacos for $15. Cheesesteaks, pizza and Cuban sandwiches were an extra buck, for $16.

One man saw the prices, muttered "$16 for a chicken sandwich?" and walked away.

Fans ordering an Impossible Burger with chips at the Grill stand had to fork over $20. How about that half-pound premium angus cheeseburger with chips? That'll be $16. Prefer chicken tenders and sea salt fries? $14, please.

At Marketplace Burger, an 18-inch Key West hot dog topped with candied key limes, coleslaw and peppers cost $28. But here's the deal: It feeds two.

Celebrity sightings were a dime a dozen.

Rap stars Jay-Z and G-Eazy strolled the grounds along with NFL legends Dan Marino and Michael Vick. Pitbull _ Mr. 305 _ and his dance crew performed a set for fans gathered outside the stadium, opening with "Don't Stop the Party."

Also spotted were Beyonce, Alex Rodriguez, Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Hart, David Beckham, Paul McCartney, Jeff Bezos, Marc Anthony, MC Hammer, Meek Mill and Pat Riley.

Before the game began, a short tribute was paid to the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other seven people who were killed a week ago when their helicopter crashed into a hillside near Calabasas, Calif. During the tribute, fans could be heard yelling "We love you, Kobe!" throughout the stadium.

For those driving to the stadium without a parking pass, members of the Miami Garden community near the stadium posted signs on their lawns advertising parking for the game. One homeowner was charging $100.

Uber and Lyft prices remained moderate, running those coming from Brickell, Miami Beach or Wynwood around $35 a ride to the game.

Still, that price surged at times to $45.

Not everyone was on their best behavior during Super Bowl week.

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