This time, Jim noticed that the official beer at the stadium was Miller Lite. Kevin said Jim hate th

A Super Bowl trip of a lifetime started badly, erupted into a nightmare and ended even worse. But, boy, do Kevin Niezabytowski, of Cicero, and his father, Jim Niezabytowski, of Westvale, have a football story to hold forever. The Niezabytowskis were among 2,000 ticket holders who arrived at Cowboys Stadium for the Super Bowl last weekend only to learn...
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Jim Commentucci / The Post-Standard Kevin Niezabytowski (left) and his father Jim Niezabytowski pose for a photo Friday with their Super Bowl tickets that left them without seats for the game last weekend.
accommodation special rates lisbon A Super Bowl trip of a lifetime started badly, erupted into a nightmare and ended even worse. But, boy, do Kevin Niezabytowski, of Cicero, and his father, Jim Niezabytowski, of Westvale, have a football story to hold forever.
The Niezabytowskis were among 2,000 ticket holders who arrived accommodation special rates lisbon at Cowboys Stadium accommodation special rates lisbon for the Super Bowl last weekend accommodation special rates lisbon only to learn that their seats were gone. Neither the NFL nor the host Dallas Cowboys explained on site what happened. Instead, the Niezabytowskis (pronounced NEZ-buh-TOW-ski) and others were given the ultimate runaround, sent up and down stairs and shuffled from one clueless official to another until the game was half over.
The NFL has acknowledged that it mistreated the fans whose seats disappeared when temporary sections were not finished in time for kickoff. A league official accommodation special rates lisbon told a radio station in Pittsburgh on Thursday that the situation was awful.
The NFL has announced it will compensate fans like the Niezabytowskis with two options. They can receive a ticket to next year s Super Bowl plus $2,400, which is triple the face value of the ticket, or they can opt to receive a ticket to any future Super Bowl including round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations.
The Niezabytowskis, who are fans of the New York Giants, haven t decided which option to choose. They planned to call the NFL on Friday to hear first-hand about compensation. Both said they re not in it for the windfall, but want people accommodation special rates lisbon to know how they were treated by the NFL on what should have been one of the greatest days of their lives.
Kevin Niezabytowski won two tickets to the Super Bowl through a financial lending company he works with at his business, Peoples Choice Auto in Central Square. He offered the extra ticket to his father as a 67th birthday gift. Kevin booked the flight for $1,500. Jim booked the hotel room at $350 a night.
The plan was to leave Saturday and return Monday. At Hancock International Airport, the two men were thrilled, pinching themselves that they were actually going to a Super Bowl. Jim said he s watched every Super Bowl on television since the event began in 1966. Kevin said it was a thrill to check off one of the items on their bucket list.
An omen of things to come began in the airport parking lot. Jim slipped on the ice and his elbow smacked the running board of Kevin s truck. It was badly scraped and swollen. Jim asked Kevin if his pants were dirty. Kevin said, no. "I lied," he added. "I didn't accommodation special rates lisbon want to ruin his trip any more.." Jim was hurting. They went on.
In Dallas, they took a taxi for $75 to their hotel. Kevin knew he d been ripped off, but it was the Super Bowl, after all. The hotel, however, proved a disaster. Jim had booked it through AAA. Kevin said it was the ultimate Roach Motel. When they saw the condition of the room, he was appalled.
He went to the office and demanded to speak to the manager. He wasn t available. They asked for a refund. They were told, forget it. They called the police, who said they wouldn t bring their own families to this dump. Kevin called a brother, who managed to use his business connections to get them a room at a nearby Fairfield Inn. The cost was $500 a night.
After a steak dinner - which proved the highlight of the trip - they regrouped for Super Bowl Sunday. The Niezabytowskis went to the local convention center accommodation special rates lisbon to pick up their tickets. They were sealed in plastic and came with a lanyard. As the woman handed them over, she said, You re going to the Super Bowl.
This time, Jim noticed that the official beer at the stadium accommodation special rates lisbon was Miller Lite. Kevin said Jim hate the stuff. The plan was to find their seats, then search for souvenir accommodation special rates lisbon T-shirts and hats. When they reached their designated concourse, that s when the runaround began, Kevin said.
Finally, accommodation special rates lisbon a sort of official-looking person asked him why they were standing there. He pointed out he was following directions. The official went to get help and the group of between 15 and 20 went charging up a set of stairs. The group was walking so fast, Kevin worried his father might get left behind.
The best anyone could offer were standing-room only views, which were completely obstructed. Kevin said the helplessness of the situation overwhelmed his anger and frustration. Eventually, the golf cart pulling the chairs showed up and the reality hit like a Troy Polamalu belt. They were crushed.
accommodation special rates lisbon They stuck it out until the end, watching accommodation special rates lisbon the game on television. They went by a customer service window one final time. They were given a handwritten scrap of paper with the phone number of the NFL.
They retreated across the street to a pizza joint. Jim ordered a Sam Adams. He later wanted another but was told they had run out. Both said they were so disgusted that neither called home or answered text messages.
It was a tremendous disappointment. Tremendous, said Jim. I felt the NFL knew this was a problem and should have anticipated it. They knew a week ago they had a problem with these seats. accommodation special rates lisbon There was no provision for the NFL or stadium officials accommodation special rates lisbon to acknowledge the potential for the displaced not getting seats.
Both said they applaud the NFL for its offer of compensation, yet they wonder how you can ever be compensated for the frustration and anger of having a lifetime experience like the Super Bowl ruined.