The Super Bowl is the most popular sporting event in America. We know a lot of football fans, but Dan Cohen just might be the biggest Super Bowl fan we’ve ever met. What started as a weekend trip to San Diego in 2003 has grown into annual tradition for Dan and his friends. Regardless of the teams playing, he hasn’t missed a single game in over 10 years. This weekend, of course, he’s in San Francisco at Super Bowl 50 – his 14th consecutive bowl game.
How did your Super Bowl tradition start?
It started when me and two of my friends were watching a NY Giants playoff game and after a great first half were sure the Giants were going to the Super Bowl. We got over excited and booked flights and the Giants ended up losing that game. We went anyway and had an amazing weekend. Plus we would later get to see 2 Giants Super Bowl wins in 2007 and 2011. Back then it was only 3 of us that went. Now it’s about ten guys.
The Super Bowl is probably the most exhilarating sporting event of the year. What is it that you personally love about it?
I love how the game takes over the host city. Wherever it is it’s all about football. I love the game so I feel like I get to celebrate once a year at the sports main event.
Of all the Super Bowl cities you’ve traveled to, which town put on the best show?
I don’t know if it was the best show but I always have said one my favorite Super Bowls was surprisingly in Detroit. It was much more intimate for football fans to interact with players and celebrities. Because of the location the crowd was more indigenous to the “the Super Bowl weekend” than most years. I liked that…not like Miami where all the Kim Kardashians and Paris Hiltons of the world go to.
Have there been any cities you were indifferent about traveling to, but really impressed you in the end?
Indianapolis…at least for big events. They do an amazing job. Final Four is hosted there often so the city has it down pretty well.
No matter who’s playing, tickets to the Super Bowl are probably the most coveted sporting event tickets of the year — how far in advance do you have to get tickets and book your trip?
My friends are involved with nightlife and host major Super Bowl parties every year so they have a lot of access. Getting tickets and planning the trip is never a problem. I am just very fortunate to have great friends who are also the right people to know.
We bet you’ve seen some pretty crazy shenanigans over the years. What’s the wildest Super Bowl story you can share with us?
What happens at Super Bowl stays in the locker room. Lots of wild stories though. I will tell you one incident that took place a few years ago in New Orleans. We were at the Playboy party which is a corporate sponsored event as most of them are. One of the sponsors was Tabasco and they were displaying a new flavor of hot sauce or something. In particular there was a huge barrel of hot sauce as part of display. One of our friends was dared to dunk his head in it for 500 bucks. Without warning he walked over put 2 hands on the barrel and immersed his head into hot sauce. This turned out to be a lot worse for him than he expected. He basically pepper sprayed himself. He started screaming in pain. We started wiping his eyes with towels and water and I think that made it worse. Security told us milk worked better. We ran back into the party and screamed….”We have a medical emergency…we need milk!!!”
We were now spraying our friend with milk like we just won the World Series. There was a crowd watching. It was hysterical…he wasn’t normal for a week.
You’re in San Francisco for the game now- what’s the experience been like so far?
Away from NYC, San Francisco is my favorite city so I am biased. So far I think they have done a tremendous job. Great place for a 50 year anniversary.
Ok, so we have to ask — who do you pick to win Super Bowl 50?
I’m going with Denver and the points!
