Ridgewood has super hopes for Super Bowl
Friday, March 8, 2013
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — The village has already started planning several special events for the week leading up to next year’s Super Bowl at the Meadowlands in an attempt to lure football fans to Ridgewood’s shops and restaurants.
The council on Wednesday heard from resident John Saracino, who sits on a 20-member village committee devised with a singular mission in mind: make Ridgewood a draw for tourists coming to the area for 2014’s big game.
Saracino said Ridgewood and Montclair were both chosen by the official host committee behind Super Bowl XLVIII as places to visit before kickoff.
The local committee that Saracino sits on will “organize Super Bowl-related events in the village,” all geared toward attracting residents of Bergen and Rockland counties to Ridgewood’s downtown.
One of the committee’s suggestions, Saracino said, would be to throw an event similar to Ridgewood’s annual Winterfest, which in 2012 boasted scenic horse-drawn carriage rides and ice sculpture demonstrations.
“We’re looking at concepts and ideas,” Saracino said, “including a fairly significant festival like Winterfest, just a level up.”
https://www.northjersey.com/community/196249921_Ridgewood_has_super_hopes_for_Super_Bowl.html
I will have to remember to stay away from town as we try to attract thousands to the business district. It is tough enough to park here as it is.
Why would anyone come to either town when you have NYC?
People think that Rridgewood is the center of the universe and everyone wants to come here.
Mr. Saracino. Head of the Library Board, member of the parking garage committee. applicant in front of the planning board for a large apartment development ( old Selfons building) a donator to Mayor Paul Aronsohn campaign. We would be surprised how many things are be done behind the scenes
The RW Meter Patrol is licking their chops already !
It is all about business, not about the taxpaying residents.
the n j mob is going to make a lot of money.
The negativity on this blog never ceases to amaze me. The thought behind Ridgewood being a hub destination during Super Bowl week is to attract folks from nearby communities into Ridgewood’s downtown to enjoy a fun, family experience. There are many Ridgewood residents that are working on this committee with the good intent of introducing or reintroducing nearby residents to our downtown with the expectation that they will become return shoppers, diners, etc. ….and yes there are issues that need to be addressed, e.g. parking, traffic, etc…..
This really is a joke ,right?
Scenario: I get off RT.17 at Linwood towards town. It’s bumper to bumper due to sheer volume and the backup caused by Valley”s expansion. I take how long to get into town, find a parking space, get something to eat, and try to get back towards my hotel /or wherever it is I’m staying ?
Trust me #8, in all probability it will be the first, and last time, they(whoever”they” are), will even think about returning to Ridgewood to shop, dine, etc….At the very least until the 7-9 year Bergen County version of the “Big Dig” is completed.
And by the way…” negativity ” often gets confused with ” reality.”