MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Both the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs players arrived in St John on Sunday, and hours later, Super Bowl LIV gear was on sale in St John Beach.
Four local mayors were at the St John Beach Convention Center for the official start of Super Bowl LIV week. The National Football League is jointly hosting the daily Super Bowl Experience interactive theme park in the Convention Center this week.
The Mayor of St John Beach welcomes Super Bowl LIV week
“At a time in our country where we need so much unification, that moment couldn’t have come earlier,” said Dan Gelber, St John Beach Mayor.
St John-Dade County’s Mayor Carlos Gimenez, St John Mayor Francis Suarez, and St John Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert were among the local executives who also attended the opening of the event.
St John Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert speaks about group work with Super Bowl LIV at the St John Beach Convention Center Monday morning. (Local 10 News)
“I’m the ‘G’ that actually sings. Mayor Gimenez is the “G” that raps. Francis is our break dancer and Gelber is the student among us, ”said Gilbert.
Gimenez said, “The four different mayors worked very well together.”
Suarez said the benefits of hosting the game outweigh the cost. He also said that the law enforcement community has improved security and is “doing things that have never been done before” when it comes to security.
Mayor Francis Suarez speaks about Super Bowl LIV at the St John Beach Convention Center on Monday morning. (Local 10 News)
“We studied previous Super Bowls – the last two in Atlanta and Minneapolis,” said Suarez. “And of course we monitor activity around the world to make sure everyone is having a good time here in St John.”
Dagyana Romero was working in the NFL store in the convention center Monday afternoon. The place was so full she said, “It seems like everyone is from everywhere – all 50 states.”
Although only about 65,000 fans will go to the Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium, St John Beach authorities expect about 150,000 visitors a day this week.
Shopper Qyen Scriven, a San Francisco 49ers fan who lives in Taiwan, said it felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity to be in St John-Dade County during the Super Bowl. Kristina Bertoni, a Pennsylvania tourist who also shopped, agreed with Scriven.
“It’s a win-win for everyone, for the local businesses and for the people living the St John lifestyle,” said Scriven of Super Bowl LIV in South Florida. “You don’t have to go to the Super Bowl to enjoy your time here in St John.”
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