Sports

Airports score touchdowns with football fans

Airports, Sports,

GAMECOCKS souvenirs

For most airports, the holiday season is the most hectic and festive time of the year. But in many communities, the terminals also dress up for the college football season. Here’s how airports around the country accommodate traveling fans with football fever:

In South Carolina, Columbia Metropolitan Airport considers itself Gamecock Country. “We have a phenomenal relationship with the University of South Carolina football program and see many Carolina fans in Gamecock gear come through the airport to attend games throughout the season. On big game weekends, fans will arrive in groups and the PA announcements from the head football coach, Steve Spurrier, will sometimes elicit loud cheers,” said airport spokeswoman Kaela Harmon.

Auburn University football fan at BHM Airport 2011

At Alabama’s Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), airlines take on several charter flights to accommodate football teams and fans for the Blazers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Crimson Tide at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, and fans of the Auburn University Tigers.

The recent success of the Crimson Tide has been a boon for the airport. “We have had up to an additional 27 flights added to our regular flight schedule during the national championship game,” said airport spokeswoman Toni Herrera-Bast. “Some fans leave the evening before to arrive at their destination in time for kick-off then turn back around after the game and come home,” and during last year’s national championship game the airport brought in musicians to play for passengers while they waited to depart for the big game. “We also had mini cupcakes with the university’s emblem waiting for fans in baggage claim area after the win,” said Herrera-Bast.

During college bowl game season, plenty of football fans wearing team shirts and hats promoting their alma maters can be spotted in the terminals at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. “It creates a fun, festive atmosphere and airport employees really enjoy it,” said PHX spokesperson Julie Rodriguez. “One memorable moment occurred after a game in the Bowl Championship Series a few years back when fans for the winning team were having the quarterback for the losing team paged. We have both audio and visual paging, so the name was displayed on monitors throughout the terminal,” said Rodriguez.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, fans from five major league sports team and two major college football teams pass through Oakland International Airport (OAK) and the airport serves as the official hometown airport for Cal Athletics from the University of California at Berkeley.

The airport has a multi-year partnership that extends through all 29 University of California at Berkeley Athletics programs with a specific emphasis on football.

During the current football season, the airport has fixed, video, animated and rotational signage, announcements and promotions, and in-stadium game offerings that include “Tweet-to-Win” promotions for flights from Oakland to destinations as diverse as Las Vegas and Aukland.

Of course, it’s not just college football that brings fans to and through airports around the country. Plenty of fans travel for NFL games too.

Indianapolis International Airport, which had more than 500 aircraft on the ground during the Super Bowl in 2012, also gets quite busy during the annual NFL Scouting Combine.

“We see a spike in charter and general aviation traffic and have extra volunteers, welcome tables and live entertainment in Civic Plaza for arriving guests,” says airport spokesman Carlo Bertolini.

Green Bay Packers cheesehead

At Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) in Green Bay, Wis., every TV in the terminal is tuned to football whenever the Green Bay Packers are playing and the gift shop does a brisk business selling foam cheese heads, T-shirts, can cozies and “everything else in stock that screams Packers,” said assistant airport director John Reed.

Delta, one of the commercial airlines serving Green Bay, switches from regional jets to larger A-320s for the morning departure slots after each game and during important or playoff games the airport hosts hundreds of private and charter jets. “We close taxiways during heavy games to allow for parking of aircraft,” said Reed.

In addition to rental cars, there are two bus lines, plus taxi and limousine companies providing game transportation to and from the stadium.

“Here at the airport we hope for wins every day,” said Reed, “Because that means more people flying in to Green Bay. And that’s serious business for our community.”

(My story about airports and football fans first appeared as my “At the Airport” column on USA Today)

Bow hunting at the airport? Yup!

Airports, Sports, , ,
Bowhunting - from Library of Congress, via Flickr Commons

From Library of Congress, via Flickr Commons

 

 

Passengers can’t take guns, knives or other weapons on airplanes, but starting next month, 157 hunters will get licenses to bow hunt for deer on land owned by Pittsburgh International Airport.

The Allegheny County Airport Authority created the pilot program in response to a request from two state officials on behalf of constituents who attended a town meeting and expressed interest in hunting on airport-owned acreage.

“We have a rich hunting tradition here in western Pennsylvania,” said State Sen. Matt Smith, one of the program’s proponents. “The area around the airport is fairly rural and has a rich potential for game that is sought after by hunters.”

Like most airports, Pittsburgh International has a wildlife management effort to avoid hazards on from birds, deer and other wildlife.

“While there is currently no animal problem at the airport, if left uncontrolled, an overpopulation on remote land owned by the airport could eventually become a problem,” said airport spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny.

A large swath of land around the airport was once available for recreation and hunting, but two years ago signs prohibiting trespassing went up.

“Not even bird-watchers could go out there,” said Jerry Gileot, a hunter who lives near the airport. “We were able to get it open for this year for bow hunting and hopefully for other activities in the future.”

The airport worked out the pilot with local hunting groups, and this year about 2,362 acres of remote airport property will be open for bow hunting, with licenses awarded by lottery. More than 2,500 people have applied so far, with some requests coming from as far away as Texas, Utah and Florida.

“The locals are laughing about that,” Gileot said. “If those hunters think there’s a big buck behind every tree here, they’ll be really disappointed.”

There won’t be any charge for permits the first year, Smith said. “It’s simply for the benefit of individual hunters. But because there is a cost to the airport to operate the program, we may try to be creative and this as a way to generate revenue to avoid putting the onus on taxpayers.”

This year’s bow hunting season runs from Oct. 15 through Jan. 11, 2014. Applications can be submitted through Sept. 22 at www.FlyPittsburgh.com/archery.

Pittsburgh isn’t the only airfield with a hunting program. In 2012, after a moratorium of several years, Minnesota’s St. Cloud Regional Airport began allowing hunting for whitetail deer on 170 acres.

People pay $10 to enter a lottery for seven permits, and winners must pay an additional $5. This year St. Cloud received 79 applications for the season, which started last Saturday.

Bow hunters there have to follow a number of specific rules, including removing all entrails and disposing of them properly. The city also provides information on donating the meat if hunters aren’t going to eat it.

“I had a meeting with the seven permit winners to go over the process,” said airport manager Bill Towle, “I had them sign a paper saying they understand the rules and I told them they have to all get along out there.”

( My story about bow hunting at the Pittsburgh and St. Cloud airports first appeared on the CNBC Road Warrior )

Surf’s up at Munich Airport

Events, Sports, , , ,

The surf’s definitely up at Munich Airport this summer.

MUC SURFING

The 3rd European Standing Wave Championship is going on this weekend in a giant wave pool installed between two runways at Munich Airport, with surfers competing for 10,000 euros in prize money.

Here’s a highlight video from last year:

The competition is part of the “Surf & Style powered by Lufthansa” event running through August 25 and anyone can stop by and go surfing from 10 am until 8pm. There’s even a free surfing time each day starting at 3 pm (reservations required).

For those who have finished surfing or who just want to hang out by the water, there’s a beach area with palm trees, lounge chairs and a cocktail bar.

There’s another way to surf for free at Munich Airport: on the internet.

In the past, 30 free Wi-Fi minutes were only accessible to those who opened a browser, put in a mobile phone number and waited for a text message with a log-in code.

Now you just need to launch a browser and plug in an email address to get on-line.

Kobe Bryant superhero cape big seller at LAX airport

Souvenirs, Sports, ,

Sports memorabilia is a big seller at many airports and, as you might imagine, anything relating to the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team is very popular at Los Angeles International Airport.

LAX Sports shirts

And, even though knee injuries and a torn Achilles tendon seem to have taken Kobe Bryant out of the game – for now and possibly forever – I learned last week that in many LAX gift shops these #24 super hero capes are among the bestselling items.

“For children AND adults,” the salesperson eager to model the cape in this photo told me.

LAX KOBE

LAX KOBE HeRO CAPE

At New Orleans Airport: hello & goodbye Super Bowl fans

Sports, ,

SuperBowl image

The Super Bowl party is underway at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport(MSY).

 

Arriving fans were greeted with live music by the Iguanas and many other bands on Thursday and Friday, but there’s plenty of music still on tap for Saturday. Check the schedule here.

The TSA, which has nearly doubled the number of checkpoint screening lanes at MSY for the post-game period, has issued its own list of tips for Super Bowl fans and, on its blog, listed “Items you may WANT to bring on the plane; but CAN’T…”

The list includes air horns and flasks filled with liquor, especially “concealment flasks” disguised as something else: “Binocular flasks, beer bellies, cell phone flasks, cane flasks, pen flasks, flip-flop flasks, you name it… You may be able to sneak these into concerts and sporting events, but we’ll find them at the airport,” the TSA warns on its blog.

The TSA also urged Baltimore Ravens fans traveling with a live ravens to check with their airlines for the rules on traveling with pets and warned fans of the San Francisco 49ers that gold mining implements such as pick axes and shovels are prohibited as carry-on items.

Sports fans planning tailgating events were reminded to leave propane tanks, gas heaters and stoves out of checked or carry-on baggage and that, due to restrictions on carrying more than 3.4 ounces of liquids in carry-on bags, food items such as dips, spreads, BBQ sauce, peanut butter, salsa and other items more than 3.4 ounces should be put in checked, not carry-on bags.

Monday, February 4th will likely be the busiest post-game day at the airport, and on that day the TSA will have checkpoints open 24/7.

If you’re flying in on Saturday or flying out after the game, here are some transportation tips from New Orleans Host Committee and from Airport Chatter.

(Photo courtesy NewOrleansOnline.com)

Forget the Super Bowl. Party at the New Orleans airport.

Music, Souvenirs, Sports, ,

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is all gussied up and ready for the throngs of football fans making their way to town for the Super Bowl XLVII festivities.

New Orleans mugs

In addition to Super Bowl souvenirs already on sale at the airport, there are many new restaurants and shops. And the airport has a stellar line-up of music planned to entertain arriving passengers. From Thursday, January 31, through Saturday, February 2, here are the bands on tap:

new orleans music

The exact music schedule won’t be out until Wednesday. And while you might not get a police escort like the one the Baltimore Ravens got on arrival, it’s a sure bet that anytime you touch down in New Orleans this week, it’s going to be a party.

NEW ORLEANS RAVENS police escort

(Photos courtesy Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport)

Heathrow ready to say goodbye to athletes and fans

Sports, , ,

Who is faster? Usain Bolt or a speeding airplane?

Athletes, their families, their coaches and many Olympics fans will be heading home after the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Heathrow Airport says it’s ready to handle all those departures.

August 13, 14, 15 are expected to be the busiest in Heathrow history, and on Monday (the 13th) alone, 5,000 Olympic participants are expected to be processed at the special, temporary terminal the airport has built just for athletes. When the games are over that terminal will be demolished and the land returned to its previous use as a parking lot.

Although the athletes and all their baggage will be processed in that special terminal, everyone still has to go through the “regular” terminals to catch their flights. So travelers may end up mingling with gold medal winners at the gates.

On Monday, Heathrow is expecting to see about 15,000 members of the “Olympic family” and a total of 116,000 passengers. The record for departing passengers is 123,000 set on 29th July 2011.

Airports in London & Miami get Olympics fever

Events, Fun Stuff, Sports, , ,

Miami International Airport is saluting the Olympics with some fun events and promotions from Friday, July 27th through Monday, July 30th.

While a DJ spins tunes from around the world, passengers will be able to:

  • Get a picture taken on a winner’s podium and take home a souvenir postcard;
  • Win a gold, silver or bronze medal at a ring toss;
  • Create Olympic-themed crafts;
  • Hold the MIA Olympic torch;
  • Play Wii games against the Olympics mascots.

London’s Heathrow Airport is also having fun with the summer Olympics.
There are ping-pong tables set up in all the terminals, Olympics-themed art, giant globes and a full-schedule of character appearances and live music. Throughout the games, updates on medal winners will be announced on the public address system as well.

A waxwork statue of sprint champion Usain Bolt is now at Heathrow Airport

Headis (tennis with your head) at Dusseldorf Airport

Events, Sports, ,

We’re used to seeing passengers in airports running to catch their flights. But on Sunday, May 6, many of the people running through Germany’s Dusseldorf Airport won’t be trying to catch a plane – they’ll be demonstrating their Olympic sport.

On Sunday, from 11 am till 6 pm, Dusseldorf Airport will present “Airport Games.” The event that will feature athletes and Olympic participants in full gear playing tennis, soccer, table tennis, rowing and many other sports.

In addition to watching the sports performances, regular airport visitors will be able to participate in the sports. According to an airport statement, “Athletes will guide the audience through various sports, including headis (table tennis played with your head) and crossboccia (boccia played with bean-bag like balls in a borderless, 3-dimensional area.”

Airport Games is part of the monthly event series “Airlebnis” (Air Experience) at DUS, which turns the terminal into a public event space the first Sunday of each month. Past events have included circus performances, ski jumps, singing concerts and other events.

Flying tips for Super Bowl fans

Airports, Sports, ,

If you’re flying to or from Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI this weekend, the TSA has some advice for you.

Packing for the game? TSA blogger Bob Burns lists some popular game-day items that won’t fly. Those include air horns (compressed air) and propane tanks (compressed gas), which are prohibited from both carry-on and checked baggage. Gas heaters and stoves (popular tailgating accessories) are permitted, but they may be turned away if they smell of gas.

For travelers determined to bring their own refreshments to the game in a concealment flask, Burns notes: “We’ve seen them all. Binocular flasks, beer bellies, cell phone flasks … You may be able to sneak these into concerts and sporting events, but we’ll find them at the airport.”

His advice? Pack your libations in your luggage or stock up once you arrive in Indianapolis. Although he does point out that travelers are permitted to put bottles of liquid 3.4 oz or less in those carry-on zippered baggies.

TSA will use generic-image, millimeter wave scanners at Indianapolis International Airport, and the agency will work with law enforcement at the Super Bowl. Contrary to rumors, Burns said the TSA will not be employing body scanners at the stadium.

Planning your game day outfit? Burns suggests that anyone wearing a loose-fitting sports jersey as outerwear may be asked to remove it at a security checkpoint. He adds that New England Patriot fans should be ready to remove their tri-cornered hats (Cheeseheads, he said, get the same treatment) and that New York Giants fans should be prepared to duck when going through the airport metal detectors and scanners.

Cue the rim shot….

If you’ve got some extra time to spend at the IND airport, keep in mind that many shops will be offering special Super Bowl souvenirs (including championship items rushed to the airport when the game is over).  There’s also a pop-up, hotel-style lobby from Courtyard Marriott on Concourse A, just past the security checkpoint, and a full day of entertainment on tap Monday in the airport’s pre-security Civic Plaza lobby.

Check here for the latest information about extended hours and offerings at IND airport.

IND Airport pop-up lobby, courtesy Courtyard Marriott