"It’s a new phenomenon,” says KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel, “charging people to watch people be interviewed.”
But thousands of people were willing to pay $28.50 to pack into Prudential Center on Tuesday to watch thousands of reporters interview the Super Bowl players.
“And they were sitting in the stands. I would guess several thousand fans paid that plus parking to watch the circus,” said Art.
For fans who don’t have ticket to Sunday’s game, Tuesday offered a rare ringside seat.
“And I guess they got their money’s worth, because they got a chance to see the players,” said Art.
Fans chanted the names of the players as they took the stage, said Art. Seahawks’ Richard Sherman was positively charming, thanking New Jersey for hosting the game. And even Marshawn Lynch took questions for six minutes.
The media day event was a festive one, with a Bruce Springsteen tribute band belting out classics and the teams’ cheerleaders drumming up the crowd.
“So we felt a very New Jersey welcome,” said Art.
