Super Sweep for Super Bowl XL

A LOCAL COMPANY CONTRACTS WITH THE DETROIT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PROVIDE STREET SWEEPING FOR SUPER BOWL XL
by Rick Stedman

Supreme Sweeping Services to present a revitalized downtown Detroit during last month's Super Bowl.  As thousands descended on the Motor City in anticipation of the annual NFL championship game, Supreme Sweeping Services was busy behind the scenes making the new look newer.

"The week leading up to the big game, our team was providing nearly 20 hours a day of sweeping for all streets in the downtown area," said Mike Miodowski, vice president of Supreme Sweeping Services.  "We had upwards of 5 sweepers and a dozen employees per shift to accommodate the city's sweeping needs in and around Ford Field (site of the Super Bowl)."

When Detroit was selected as the site of Super Bowl XL in 2000, the city was in need of a serious make over.  Led by Roger Penske of Indianapolis 500 fame, Detroit began refurbishing the downtown area by renovating run-down buildings and patching up pot-hole ridden Woodward Ave. (the main drag) and many other downtown roads.

Penske served as chairman of the Detroit Super Bowl XL Committee.  He oversaw a 43-member board of directors and a full staff to handle the day-to-day operations of the committee, which served as a liaison between the National Football League, the City of Detroit and other sponsoring parties.

Nearly a century ago, the country's first mile of paved concrete road was installed on Woodward Ave.  This 27-mile stretch of history has since been designated a National Senic Byway.  Over the years, however, it has suffered from neglect.  Then along came the Super Bowl, and Woodward Ave. received a much-needed face lift.  The task of maintaining its beautification fell to the Detroit Dept. of Public Works.

According to Alfred Jordan, deputy director for the Department, keeping streets clean and presentable before, during and after the Super Bowl was a combination of private and public sweeping efforts.

In preparation for the Super Bowl, Jordan said his team of public works employees provided street sweeping in an area equivalent to 70 miles of roads throughout the Central Business District Extended.  The Detroit Dept. of Public Works accomplished the task using Elgin sweepers, specifically Pelican and Eagle model broom sweepers.

In conjunction with the Super Bowl, Detroit also hosted its second annual Motown Winter Blast, a winter carnival featuring sled dogs and ice skating, a 200-foot-long snow slide, and heated tents showcasing musical entertainment and the city's best cuisine.  The four-day event this year drew in excess of 1.2 million attendees.  To accommodate the Winter Blast, Jordan said numerous streets were cordoned off for pedestrian-use only.

"Before those streets were re-opened to vehicular traffic, they needed a good sweeping," said Jordan.  Supreme Sweeping Services, based in Shelby Township 15 miles north of Detroit, also assisted in that effort with its Schwarze models A-4000 and 3481.  The company has 10 sweepers in its arsenal.

"It's been an exciting time for everyone here in Detroit," said Miodowski.  "Detroit is basically a brand new city; it really shines.  In fact, when I toured the city with Roger Penske a few days before the Super Bowl, he was very impressed with the work that had been done and progress the city had made in improving its image and appearance."  I'd like to feel that we had something to do with that improved image."

The day after the Super Bowl, which saw the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10, Penske said at a press conference, "As far as I'm concerned, the most valuable player of the Super Bowl is the city of Detroit."

Judging by the event's success, it appears to be so.
Article provided by North American Sweeper