Super Bowl clock ticking at Sky Harbor Terminal 4
Kelsey Hazlewood
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 27, 2007 12:00 AM
PHOENIX - In the baggage claim of Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor International Airport, a new 194-pound digital clock hangs above the heads of bustling travelers.
But it does not tell the time. It's counting down the days until Super Bowl XLII comes to Glendale.
As of today, there are 221 days to go. People in the busy baggage claim Tuesday took time to stop and smile at the game's mascot Spike the Super Ball, and gaze at the bright red numbers on the digital clock. A few travelers snapped pictures of Mayor Phil Gordon and Councilmen Claude Mattox and Michael Johnson.
The 7 ½- by 3-foot clock was unveiled Tuesday at noon by the Super Bowl Host Committee and the mayor.
Sky Harbor officials quickly accepted the idea of the clock when the committee presented it, but constructing and hanging the timepiece proved to be difficult, committee President Bob Sullivan said.
The committee had to hire an architect, electrical contractor and an inspector to install the clock safely in the airport with the necessary permits. Then the team experienced delays after the first architect abandoned the job. Eventually, Mike Newton from California-based NeoVision Inc. helped get the clock built in only 30 days, with support from the Arizona Super Bowl officials.
"The host committee and their partners were great," Newton said.
The committee considered placing the clock at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale but decided on the airport as the better location, Sullivan said.
"Everybody can see it here," Sullivan said. "Not only people coming in and out of Arizona, but Arizonans as well. So it's a slam dunk."
Airport officials estimate more than 6 million people will see the clock before the Feb. 3 game.
Gordon smiled as he spoke about Super Bowl XLII and the benefits it will have on the state.
"We are going to have a great, great super bowl," Gordon said. "My colleagues and I are so excited to be a part of this team."
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