Hollywood, Florida: All America City and
Revitalized Beach Destination for Sun-sational Experiences

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Judy Erickson
Hollywood, Florida Office of Tourism
(954) 921-3478
Email: jerickson@hollywoodfl.org

COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF:
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA IS A TOUCH DOWN FOR FOOTBALL SEASON

No Need for a Coin Toss, Hollywood Wins Hands Down As Best Place to Stay and Celebrate

HOLLYWOOD, FL - Want the best of both worlds? Come for the football, stay at the beach. About 10 miles or 176 football fields away from Dolphin Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins Pro NFL team, the Florida Atlantic University Owls, new home to the University of Miami Hurricanes, and this year’s Orange Bowl.

Whether a pro or college football fanatic, Hollywood is just the ticket for pre- and post-game festivities.  With accommodations on the beach and a short driving distance to the stadium as well as a wide variety of dining and entertainment options for singles, couples, and families, Hollywood is the perfect place to make a weekend getaway out of one of America’s favorite pastimes.

Pre-Game Rituals

Arrive Friday afternoon and scout Downtown Hollywood and the Broadwalk for a pre-game gathering. Friday’s beachside Broadwalk Friday Fest lends itself as a meeting ground to gather friends and family prior to heading out to any of the dozens of restaurants, bars and lounges.

Begin your celebration with a fine dining experience. Both Downtown Hollywood and the beach have gastronomic experiences unique to South Florida. Among the restaurants in Downtown Hollywood, Fulvio’s 1900 and Lola’s on Harrison are two highly acclaimed culinary establishments.

A Ritual or Just Pre-Game

Instead of fine dining, enjoy a more casual atmosphere or try out some of these favorite places before or after the game.  These locations allow you to dine in or you can pick up a to-go order on the way to tailgating at the stadium.

Capone’s Flicker Lite Pizza is a casual hang out for locals.  Outside seating with views of the Intracoastal Waterway is available. Among food favorites are the fried mozzarella and the Chicago-style pizza, both items garnering great reviews.

Next door, Le Tub is one of Oprah Winfrey’s favorite South Florida restaurants, but visitors should not expect a fancy restaurant. Le Tub is loaded with discarded bathtubs, cracked commodes, and other household flotsam. GQ claimed Le Tub is “a dream of a dump” and serves “the best hamburger in America.” Arrive with enough time and expect no rush as the place is always crowded.

Rivals Waterfront Sports Grille at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa offers a comfortable restaurant and meeting place for an after-game ritual. Featuring an American-inspired fare with a global edge, the restaurant is a sports buff’s haven with its high definition plasmas, billiards room, and separate lounge and bar, inclusive of dockside seating with views of the Intracoastal as well. Rivals is open late night from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. with food served until 1:30 a.m.

Post-Game Celebration

Win or lose, if you are looking for place to perform a post victory dance or let loose instead of dining out, Downtown Hollywood features a hip nightlife scene with a mixture of lounges, clubs and bars.  Popular spots include Martini Lounge, MIA Lounge at Mama Mia Italian Ristorante, and Spice-Resto Lounge where guests dance on tables.

When tired toes do not want to dance and pressing your luck is an option, then try a hand at one of the area’s gaming spots. Hollywood has plenty of gaming locations including: the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Seminole Indian Casino, Gulfstream Park, Mardi Gras Race Track & Gaming Center, or Dania Jai-Alai. Another type of game, billiards, is available at Rivals, Capone’s and Tony’s Billiards for those who prefer more of a laid-back atmosphere or bar scene.

Sidelines Note

For those who cannot make it to the game, in addition to Rivals, Capone’s, and Tony’s, fans can catch the action from one of the local pubs, including Cheese Steak Grille & Wings or Coyote’s Bar.

Football Packages

Hollywood hotels and resorts recognize football fans need a place to stay.  With that in mind, many of these hoteliers will kick-off weekend packages.  At the Hollywood Beach Marriott, Miami Hurricane and Miami Dolphins fans and opponents can stay on property with room rates beginning at $179 per night up to $229. The Miami Hurricanes and the Miami Dolphins home game schedule this season is as follows:

To learn more about Hollywood, its water and eco-friendly activities, evolving dining and nightlife scene, and the value-added accommodations, visit www.visithollywoodfl.org.

Attn Editors: Color photography available.

About Hollywood, Florida
Situated between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Hollywood, Florida, the 2007 All-America City and one of Fodor's 2009 "Best Beaches for Families," is a desirable year-round destination offering more than 5,000 hotel rooms at a variety of hotels, resorts and Superior Small Lodgings. Minutes away from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport and home to Port Everglades, the largest cruise port in the world, Hollywood visitors enjoy seven miles of Blue Wave beaches; a two-and-a-half-mile European-style Broadwalk lined with cafés, restaurants, boutique and full-service hotels and resorts as well as vacation apartments facing the ocean; a revitalized Historic Downtown Hollywood and new ArtsPark at Young Circle; and an array of activities including first-class shopping, waterfront, nature and dining experiences. For more information about Hollywood, FL, contact the Hollywood Office of Tourism at (877) 672-2468 or visit www.visithollywoodfl.org.