Cindy Tanoury sets up at Superbowl 50
SANTA CLARA — When the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers take the field for Superbowl 50 this Sunday, Feb. 7, local fans can rest assured knowing the foothills are represented at Levi’s Stadium.
Oakhurst’s Cindy Tanoury, along with Coarsegold residents Andrew and Jennifer Tapia, and Stacy Soulis, have been hard at work all week long, preparing to sell a treasure trove of souvenirs for the big day.
“I’m here setting up 27 merchandise stands and selling it on Sunday,” explains Cindy, who says security is tight and shifts are long. Merchandise includes jerseys, t-shirts, hats, mugs, keychains, coins, posters and you-name-it.
“I’m crazy busy on 13 hour days. Heavy military on the ground and in the air. It’s surreal. It’s exhausting, a little scary, and amazing.” The team is already selling merchandise from two huge trailers at the Santa Clara Convention Center, in advance of the event. On Wednesday, at Levi’s Stadium, Cindy saw the halftime show twice.
Merchandise is on sale already for the big event
“Not sure how it will look on TV, but here in the stands, amazing! It’s very colorful and fun. Tune in Sunday. They sound great live, and the stadium is gorgeous!”
She describes being at Superbowl 50 as a “bucket list kind of thing,” but it’s actually not her first time to the party.
Back in 1985, for Superbowl XIX, Cindy was part of the pregame show in front of a crowd of 85,000 who turned out to watch the San Francisco 49ers play the Miami Dolphins at Stanford Stadium.
Cindy was part of the American flag for Super Bowl XIX 1985
The marching band director from Cindy’s high school was chosen to choreograph some 1,300 students in an American flag routine, with Cindy part of the team holding red umbrellas during the National Anthem.
Now, Sunday’s game is the 50th edition of the Super Bowl, first played in 1967. The league’s golden anniversary of the game has been promoted throughout the season including gold-tinted logos across all NFL properties, and they’ve temporarily suspended the tradition of Roman numerals (the game would have been known as “Super Bowl L”).
Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara
The winner of Super Bowl 50 will receive a special 18-karat gold-plated “50” trophy. No matter who triumphs on Sunday, Cindy and the rest of the foothills crew will come home with some golden memories.
Superbowl XIX Pre-Game on YouTube: National Anthem (1985)
