The Bay Area Super Bowl Host Committee on Monday kicked off its "50 weeks to the 50th Super Bowl" campaign.
Part of the festivities to launch the countdown to the big game included projecting a countdown clock at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and at Coit Tower in San Francisco.
Salinas teacher Teresa Donlin took her class to visit Levi's Stadium on Monday and were some of the first to see banners for the countdown.
"I think it's great," Donlin said. "Always got to have countdowns going."
The Bay Area's Super Bowl Host Committee volunteers on Monday also showed up unannounced to hand out gifts at the Santa Clara town center as part of the early Super Bowl promotion.
The free gifts included $50 gas cards, $50 gift cards and 49ers museum and Great America passes.
"For us, it's all about the people and it's all about the residents in the Bay Area," said Sarah Hawkins, Super Bowl 50 Host Committee. "And you really just want people to get as excited as we are that Super Bowl 50 is coming to the Bay Area."
Sports
The host committee as well as numerous South Bay agencies said the outdoor San Jose Sharks hockey game provided some early promotion and insight onto possible issues.
"We're going to be working with our partners to understand crowds and size," said Brandi Childress of the Valley Transportation Authority. "And it's going to be all about research and understanding where these people are going to be coming from and how they're going to want to use transit."
The host committee also launched a fan countdown clock, where fans can submit photos to be featured in the countdown. Visit www.sfbaysuperbowl.com for more information.
