Navigating the Super Bowl

Screaming fans, indulgent food and hilarious commercials are all things we look forward to with the Super Bowl. This year, however, we Minnesotans won’t just feel the impact of the game in our living rooms—we’ll feel the impact across our entire community. The Super Bowl is expected to bring more than a million people to the Twin Cities and have an economic impact of more than $400 million.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the event, it’s also important to understand how the event could impact you. With that in mind, AAA wants to provide helpful safety tips for when the world descends on Minneapolis in February.

Traffic Safety

Although the Super Bowl is not until Feb. 4, the community may notice traffic changes starting in early January.

“From what we have heard from other cities who have hosted similar events, we should expect increased traffic congestion,” said Alex Draeger, community outreach police officer for the city of St. Louis Park.

Tips to Prepare for Increased Traffic

• Allow more time to get to and from your location
• Increase your following distance from other vehicles
• Remain patient and avoid road rage
• Utilize your defensive-driving skills by being extra aware and alert

“It’s important to remember out-of-town drivers won’t be as familiar with our roads and highways and may not be as familiar with ice and snowy driving conditions,” said Chris Claeson, manager of Driving Programs at AAA Minneapolis. “Putting more distance between you and other vehicles, along with eliminating distractions, will help decrease your risk of a crash.”

Members should also be aware other drivers may be driving drunk, drugged, distracted—or “all of the above.”

You could choose to take an alternative form of transportation:

• Hop on a Metro Transit bus
• Call a cab
• Arrange for a car-sharing ride
• Take the train, either light rail or Amtrak
• Bike
• Walk

Personal Security

With so many people expected in town, it’s important to keep yourself safe and secure. “In terms of increased crime, whenever you dramatically increase the number of people in a particular area, police calls for service will increase,” said Draeger. He recommends the following tips to combat the potential rise in crime:

• Keep valuables out of your vehicles
• Close your garage door
• Don’t walk alone at night
• Don’t keep your Social Security card in your wallet or purse
• Carry a minimal amount of money and few credit cards
• If you see something, call the police

“The biggest thing we want to convey to people is if you see something, say something,” said Draeger. “Law enforcement cannot be everywhere at once. We need our community’s help to keep everyone safe. If you are hesitant to call 911, know what your city’s nonemergency number is.”

Additional Advice

If you’re going to a Super Bowl party, be responsible. While you’re looking up potential recipes, think about your game plan. If you want to drink, then reserve a cab ahead of time or designate a sober driver.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, stop at any of our AAA branches to pick up a Zero Proof Guide, which contains holiday mocktail recipes.

Lastly, if you didn’t plan and you’ve had a couple of drinks, call a friend, stay where you are or call a cab. For a list of Better Business Bureau-approved taxi services, visit AAA.com/homesafe.

Hosting the Super Bowl in Minneapolis is exciting, but we want our community to stay safe by planning ahead. Take time to figure out your plan for navigating the Super Bowl.