Photos by Travis Arbon
Visitors thronged downtown Phoenix to participate in pregame festivities Thursday as the city’s core was transformed into Verizon Super Bowl Central, complete with rock climbing, beanbag shooting and plenty of food and drinks.
Roads were closed and traffic rerouted to accommodate the activities, and buildings were plastered with advertisements for chips, soft drinks and the game itself.
The attractions opened Wednesday and were in full swing by Thursday afternoon. The sky presented an overcast hue to fans looking for the Arizona sunshine, and rain eventually dampened some of the atmosphere.
Super Bowl Central will be open for business through the weekend, when the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots play for the NFL championship in Glendale on Feb. 1. This is the second time that the Super Bowl has been held in Arizona but the first time downtown Phoenix has played host to the pregame activities.
