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CNN Live Sunday

Parties Permeate Super Bowl Host Houston's Streets

Aired February 01, 2004 - 16:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Sports fans are gearing up for Super Bowl XXXVIII it is in Houston, and it is just about two hours away. The Carolina Panthers will face off against the New England Patriots. Well the Super Bowl and all of its fanfare is not just for diehards' sports fans. The event has kicked off with the hottest parties drawing an a-list crowd and big bucks for the city. Earlier I spoke with "Houston Chronicle" columnist Shelby Hodge who has had quite a busy weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHELBY HODGE, HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Parties have been going on every night since Tuesday with the crescendo sort of building up to last night. There were about 200 parties in town last night, and in addition to the parties, Main Street downtown looked like Bourbon Street at Mardi Gras or Times Square on New Year's Eve. The city is going wild; we're having a great time.

WHITFIELD: Wow, and I understand these are not just simple gatherings of parties. We're talking about major sponsors of a lot these parties, some of which are taking place in some rented out Texas's ranches?

HODGE: Right, well, the Maxim party on Friday night was as at a place called Regal Ranch, Circus Maximus had a circus tent erected in this middle of this ranch style setting. With sponsors such as Sony, Coors Light and a couple of other corporate, 1,500 people, a lot of really good looking women. It was a wild night.

WHITFIELD: Tell me about some of the invited guests? Who gets an invitation to go to these parties? I understand that one CEO party; former President Bush and Barbara Bush were in attendance? Who are some of the celebrities and who's who?

HODGE: They were at a private party hosted by Atilda (ph) Fortuda (ph) who is a CEO of Landry's Restaurants. That was a super bowl host committee party Tuesday night. Clay Walker performed. That was mainly local political types there. But across the city party landscape, we have had Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Nicole Richey, LL Cool J, and Jaycee, Doran Doran. All kinds of artists are here in town for the Super Bowl.

WHITFIELD: What do you suppose the explanation is as to why there is this return of glitz at this time for this Super Bowl taking place in Houston of all places.

HODGE: Well things have been fairly understated since 9/11 and then sort of the corporate debacle across the country. This is the first time that people are allowing themselves I think to feel good about what they're doing and Houston is so ready for some good news and something fun, so we're going all out for the Super Bowl.

WHITFIELD: And I understand in the eight county area of Houston, most of the hotel rooms are booked, just in time for tonight's event. Something like 120,000 visitors all expected to send spend something like $300 million in Houston. This a real good shot in the arm, economic shot in the arm that this city needed.

HODGE: It's terrific for Houston; a $300 million is big bucks for the city. I think that's another reason that everybody is in such a great mood. Because the money's flowing in, and there are people stationed all over the geographical area coming in from as far as an hour away. Not all going to the game. A lot of them just coming downtown to party with the Super Bowl throngs.

WHITFIELD: In fact a very small percentage that are actually going to the game given the face value of the tickets are somewhere between $400 and $600, and they are going for $2,000 to $7,000 I understand in some places on the street?

HODGE: That's correct, it's really a high-roller game. There are tickets are being sold on the street. But I think the closer we get to the game today, the prices are going to start falling.

WHITFIELD: All right, Shelby Hodge of the "Houston Chronicle" thanks very much and party on, have a good time tonight.

HODGE: Thank you very much!

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 1, 2004 - 16:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Sports fans are gearing up for Super Bowl XXXVIII it is in Houston, and it is just about two hours away. The Carolina Panthers will face off against the New England Patriots. Well the Super Bowl and all of its fanfare is not just for diehards' sports fans. The event has kicked off with the hottest parties drawing an a-list crowd and big bucks for the city. Earlier I spoke with "Houston Chronicle" columnist Shelby Hodge who has had quite a busy weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHELBY HODGE, HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Parties have been going on every night since Tuesday with the crescendo sort of building up to last night. There were about 200 parties in town last night, and in addition to the parties, Main Street downtown looked like Bourbon Street at Mardi Gras or Times Square on New Year's Eve. The city is going wild; we're having a great time.

WHITFIELD: Wow, and I understand these are not just simple gatherings of parties. We're talking about major sponsors of a lot these parties, some of which are taking place in some rented out Texas's ranches?

HODGE: Right, well, the Maxim party on Friday night was as at a place called Regal Ranch, Circus Maximus had a circus tent erected in this middle of this ranch style setting. With sponsors such as Sony, Coors Light and a couple of other corporate, 1,500 people, a lot of really good looking women. It was a wild night.

WHITFIELD: Tell me about some of the invited guests? Who gets an invitation to go to these parties? I understand that one CEO party; former President Bush and Barbara Bush were in attendance? Who are some of the celebrities and who's who?

HODGE: They were at a private party hosted by Atilda (ph) Fortuda (ph) who is a CEO of Landry's Restaurants. That was a super bowl host committee party Tuesday night. Clay Walker performed. That was mainly local political types there. But across the city party landscape, we have had Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Nicole Richey, LL Cool J, and Jaycee, Doran Doran. All kinds of artists are here in town for the Super Bowl.

WHITFIELD: What do you suppose the explanation is as to why there is this return of glitz at this time for this Super Bowl taking place in Houston of all places.

HODGE: Well things have been fairly understated since 9/11 and then sort of the corporate debacle across the country. This is the first time that people are allowing themselves I think to feel good about what they're doing and Houston is so ready for some good news and something fun, so we're going all out for the Super Bowl.

WHITFIELD: And I understand in the eight county area of Houston, most of the hotel rooms are booked, just in time for tonight's event. Something like 120,000 visitors all expected to send spend something like $300 million in Houston. This a real good shot in the arm, economic shot in the arm that this city needed.

HODGE: It's terrific for Houston; a $300 million is big bucks for the city. I think that's another reason that everybody is in such a great mood. Because the money's flowing in, and there are people stationed all over the geographical area coming in from as far as an hour away. Not all going to the game. A lot of them just coming downtown to party with the Super Bowl throngs.

WHITFIELD: In fact a very small percentage that are actually going to the game given the face value of the tickets are somewhere between $400 and $600, and they are going for $2,000 to $7,000 I understand in some places on the street?

HODGE: That's correct, it's really a high-roller game. There are tickets are being sold on the street. But I think the closer we get to the game today, the prices are going to start falling.

WHITFIELD: All right, Shelby Hodge of the "Houston Chronicle" thanks very much and party on, have a good time tonight.

HODGE: Thank you very much!

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com