Hard times have hit the Big Game

Posted: 01.29.2009 at 10:18 AM

TAMPA, FLA. (AP) -- The mountains of jumbo shrimp and caviar are shrinking along with the fleet of stretch limousines. Hard times have hit the Super Bowl.

Cardinals' lineman Elliot Vallejo says he used to think of the NFL as recession-proof. But he adds "that's not true anymore."

General Motors and FedEx have pulled their TV ads from the big game, even though NBC lowered the price. Playboy has canceled its annual party. And almost 200 fewer media credentials have been issued.

Some things you now see around Tampa that were missing from previous Super Bowl cities: empty tables at restaurants and vacant hotel rooms downtown.

At last check, StubHub had more than 3,000 seats for sale for Sunday's contest, and they were getting less expensive by the minute. A spokesman for the nationwide ticket broker says the game has become "the Limbo Bowl -- how low can it go?" StubHub's Sean Pate says people are becoming more pragmatic about plunking down $7,000 for the weekend. He adds, "They have other needs."