A Colts fan tailgates outside Sun Life Stadium. (Perry Knotts / NFL.com)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — First impression of arriving at Sun Life Stadium…

Perfect Florida winter weather; a cloudless pale blue sky, warm enough in the sun not to need a jacket or coat. I wonder how Texas will be this time next year?

No fans in the stadium as yet but there seem to be squadrons of planes pulling advertising banners overhead. From a distance, the stadium looks like a hornets’ nest with swarms of the darn things – everything from pizza commercials and ESPN promos to car-wreck insurance. I wonder if that’s an omen.

First big shock – there are no cushions on any of the seats. I can’t remember that in 15 previous Super Bowls. Another sign of the financial times?

Plenty of Colts fans in attendance outside, probably slightly outnumbering their New Orleans brethren so far (plus three guys in Pittsburgh colors – presumably they felt confident in booking their tickets after last year. Funnily enough, the Steelers were my preseason prediction. Oops.).

Time to go for a wander outside to soak up the pre-game atmosphere. The UK just has nothing to compare with this. Immense.

– Simon Veness

(U.S.-based British writer Simon Veness has infiltrated the ranks of NFL.com for Super Bowl week with his transatlantic take on events.)

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