Super Bowl 54 means all eyes are on Miami Gardens and the 305 this week. And if our elected officials and business leaders seem extra welcoming, it’s for good reason: the big game is big business. And wooing the Super Bowl also means a lot of spending by our local governments — including a $4 million payout from Miami-Dade County to the Dolphins.

Local businesses and the host city of Miami Gardens might not see a financial boost to match the more than $100 million the 305 has spent prepping for the game. But our tourism industry is already seeing the benefit of high hotel demand and they’re expecting a big bump from tourist spending. Locals could also rack up millions by hosting folks through services like Airbnb.

Another reason for the urgency and enthusiasm? The climate crisis. Miami leaders are not sugarcoating the fact that our beaches and bayfront parks might not be able to serve as added attractions for the February football game in the very near future.

In other news…

One more Super Bowl story. Whether the Kansas City Chiefs end up defeating the San Francisco 49ers or not, Rashad Fenton has already won. The Miami Gardens native has gone from selling pizzas and nachos in what was then called Sun Life Stadium to preparing to play in in the Super Bowl in his hometown. (Miami New Times)

Some non-fake news on Facebook. If you saw a post about Florida ranking 45th out of 50 states in education spending, it turns out that info isn’t coming from thin air. It’s based on an annual report produced by Education Week that ranked the Sunshine State so low. The report also included us with more than 20 other states that got failing grades from the publication. (PolitiFact Florida)

Not crossing the line. For now, vulnerable farms and nurseries in the Redland area won’t be threatened by development. Last week, Miami-Dade county leaders agreed to keep the region out of the county’s comprehensive development plan. County commissioners also agreed to follow staff recommendations that future development should remain within the county’s urban development boundary. (Miami Herald)

Whether it’s a display at your local grocery store, the massive setup on South Beach, or billboards and traffic advisories on highways like the 826, it’s beginning to look a lot like the Super Bowl in Miami. The official welcome press conference happened yesterday, and last night’s opening celebration at Marlins Park kicked things off for the week.

But if you’re not super interested in the big fan experience at the Miami Beach Convention Center or some of the massive parties being hosted by folks like Shaq and Rob Gronkowski, we’ve got some tips on other ways to celebrate this week — and on Sunday — that we hope will be easy to get to and shouldn’t break the bank.

💰Get your football fix for free. Most of the official Super Bowl events and concerts are either charging a decent amount or involve some kind of special access to get into the venue or show. But events like Super Bowl Live at Bayfront Park and the Super Fan Fest in Wynwood are actually completely free to get into. Merch and staying *ahem* hydrated once you get in are a different story.

🐶Enjoy some counter programming. If the Super Bowl itself isn’t really your thing, then you can root on some Miami pups on Sunday instead. The annual Puppy Bowl features three adorable pups that came from right here in Miami-Dade County. You can check out the doggo dynamos on Animal Planet.

😋 Eat (and drink) like a local. Local favorites like Flanigan’s are already gearing up for a big influx of to-go orders, and other spots like Proper Sausages have been advertising deals on big orders for at-home watch parties. If you decide to get out of the house, you can nom on tasty chili at Boxelder’s chili cook-off event. And just about every bar, brewery, and food hall you can think of (even beyond this Miami Herald list) will be hosting watch parties.

Know of any other counterprogramming or local events that go beyond the normal parties and big events surrounding the big game? Hit reply or email [email protected] and let us know!

The creative masterminds at Miami New Drama are thrilled to debut the second show of their 2019-2020 season with the world premiere of The Cubans.

To celebrate, they are giving away a pair of premium tickets on our Instagram (we’ll pick a winner Thursday at noon).

It is the first play by Cuban-American playwright and actor Michael Leon and turns the classic American family drama into a quintessential Miami story – a poignant, humorous exploration of generational dynamics and struggle for identity. It gives ¿Que Pasa USA? meets This Is Us vibes and will leave a lasting impression, causing you to reflect on your own family dynamics.

Tickets start at $39 and are available at colonymb.org.

Advertisement for Miami New Drama produced by The New Tropic Creative Studio 

Shout-out to the folks over at Radical Partners for joining major companies like Airbnb, Ikea, Qualcomm, and more in signing The Hispanic Promise — a national pledge that’s aimed at hiring, retaining, and promoting Hispanic employees in the workplace.

The organization also represented at the United Nations in New York as part of the Hispanic Leadership Summit last month where Joan Marie Godoy, their director of collective impact, officially signed the pledge. Head here to learn more about The Hispanic Promise.

Make it a great day, Miami! We’ll catch you tomorrow.

— The New Tropic