As a native New Yorker who grew
up a short hop from Giants Stadium, I anticipated this year’s Super Bowl with
mixed emotions. I was thrilled that the Giants made the big game but I also knew
the Patriots were a powerhouse. I feared the game would be a depressing experience; equal measures boredom and
frustration. Like many of you, I had similar concerns going into Surfaces this
year. I knew the show has never been more important, but attending is a
business decision. Given the market conditions and recession fears that have
gripped our industry, I thought it possible that attendance would be way down
and that the people who did show up would be about as effervescent as high
school kids in detention.