Hey, people, make Super Bowl fans feel welcome in Miami-Dade

Come next Sunday, Miami-Dade will be in the spotlight again. Super Bowl LIV is coming to town — Miami Gardens, to be exact.

We welcome all Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers fans heading to our beloved community and its beaches, restaurants, hotels and Airbnbs.

And we ask them to spend generously. We want them to have a great time in our town, and we hear that, collectively, they will pump millions of dollars to our economy. We thank them in advance.

We have a wish list in the hope that this global event will live up to all the hoopla that comes with it — and that we’ll be represented in a positive light far beyond our borders, something for which the Super Bowl Host Committee, Miami Gardens, tourism officials and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross have had their fingers crossed.

This week especially, we should shoot for a moratorium on “Florida man” misbehavior. Please.

We realize that while there are things that are out of our control, like the weather, others are not. We as a community should brush off the cobwebs and welcome both fans and teams.

Here’s a list of what we make go right:

1. The weather: We know we can’t control Mother Nature, but let’s hope it is nothing but sunny and crisp.

But just in case, Hard Rock Stadium’s new open-air canopy roof should offer protection for halftime acts Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. They won’t get doused as the late Prince did in 2007 during Super Bowl XLI as he sang, appropriately, “Purple Rain” in a downpour on national television.

2. The traffic: Yes, traffic is going to be even more congested than usual, as the Super Bowl crowds begin to arrive. But let’s take a deep breath and brace for it. Plus, it will be over before we know it. Let’s put the brakes on unnecessary honking and impatient driving and certainly avoid raging at the visiting drivers who are unsure where they are going.

3. Policing: We know the town will be teeming with people looking for a good time — and they will get rowdy. This is a challenging time for law-enforcement officers. We get it. But police department leaders should also tell their officers to show some restraint this week. People are here for a once-in-a lifetime experience. No need for heavy-handedness — actually, even when the Super Bowl isn’t in town — unless absolutely necessary, or unless cops want to go video-viral on TMZ Sports.

4. Service: We urge hospitality staffers in restaurants, hotels, bars and nightclubs to be patient and courteous. Of course, we would like to see Super Bowl visitors exhibit the same.

5. Fair pricing: We know this is a time for locals businesses to rake in money, but price gouging and predatory towing, for instance, are unacceptable.

6. Good neighbors: If you see visitors wearing a Chiefs or a 49ers jersey or cap who seems lost, help them. “Where are you headed?” “Can I help you find your way?” They are in our home, after all.

And finally, let’s hope Miami-Dade looks like a million bucks in those overhead shots during the game seen around the globe.

This story was originally published January 29, 2020 at 12:21 AM.