VHS

SuperBowl XL Presentation
Atlanta, GA
November 1, 2000

VHS tape containing the video of Detroit's presentation for its bid to host Super Bowl XL, shot with a single camera in one take from overhead. The presentation is given by mayor Dennis Archer; Larry Alexander, President of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Roger Penske of the Penske Corporation, and features a rotating stage with three scenes, each representing part of the presentation, and two large screens showing associated videos.

The presentation begins with mayor Dennis Archer speaking against a backdrop decorated to resemble the Michigan Avenue Detroit People Mover station complete with some of the figures from Kirk Newman's "On the Move," and a row of People Mover cars. Archer discusses the city's sports teams, before stepping through the doors of one of the cars, where video of him giving a People Mover tour of the city then takes over. The video highlights downtown points of interest like Cobo Hall, Greektown, and Campus Martius; as well as other Detroit events like the North American International Auto Show, the Jazz Fest, recent NBA Championships, and the 1980 Republican National Convention. He states that the city can handle snow, and mentions the new terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The stage then rotates to become the exterior of the Fox Theatre, and Larry Alexander steps from the doors to discuss the city's attractions. He lists the amenities of Fox Town, the Cultural Center, Henry Ford and Greenfield Village, and the Somerset Collection. He also discusses plans for events during the game at Cobo Hall, and the State Fair fairgrounds. Governor John Engler appears on the screen with a brief message.

The stage then rotates again to become the 50 yard line at the proposed Ford Field, and Roger Penske emerges to discuss the stadium, as well as funding for the event. Rick Wagoner of General Motors, James Holden of DaimlerChrysler, and Jacques Nasser of the Ford Motor Company appear to screen to affirm their support, before Archer, Alexander, and Penske re-emerge from the stage's doors to give their conclusion.

The video is on a generic tape with printed Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau labels on the top and side. The tape is housed within a blue cardboard sleeve with a cut-out window for the tape's top label.