Gateway Airport becomes Super Bowl player

Art ThomasonThe Arizona RepublicJan. 31, 2008 06:59 AM

Land dozens of corporate jets from America's cities of frigid winters, treat their crews and passengers like celebrities and send them home a few days later with compelling reasons to move here.

Call it the Gateway Bowl, a game of marketing to reach the heads of corporations who fly in luxury to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport for Super Bowl XLII.

"You have all of these CEOs coming from all over and they're normally not that easy to access," airport spokesman Brian Sexton said. "We'll do our best to make them feel comfortable here. And when their catering order is boarded for the trip home, it will include plenty of reading material about why they should move their aircraft and companies here."

Gateway is not within a government-imposed restricted flight area around game time so it could get several game-day flights, Sexton said.

Expecting as many as 1,000 additional aircraft at Valley airports, the Federal Aviation Administration is imposing flight restrictions around University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on Sunday, said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the FAA's Western-Pacific region.

The number of flights is expected to climb as Sunday's matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants draws closer.

"So far we have from 20 to 25 that want parking space at Gateway, from the small Learjet to the larger Gulfstream GV," said Matt Nebgen, the airport's aircraft services manager. "With both teams from the East Coast, the potential is unknown. We're getting calls every day that lead to bookings."

Two larger charter aircraft, a Boeing 737-400 from Boston and Boeing 757 from Washington, D.C., also will be arriving, he said.

At Falcon Field Municipal Airport in east Mesa, reservations have been made for 17 aircraft and more are expected, said Corinne Nystrom, the airport director.

The marketing campaign is the brainchild of Mesa's Office of Economic Development, and partners in its execution will be Gateway, Falcon Field and its fixed-based operator, Tango One, the Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"How many times do you have a real chance to reach sea-level decision makers," William Jabjiniak, economic development director, asked rhetorically. "You take advantage of an opportunity like this, and you don't have to spend a fortune."

Slick-paper literature and photos telling the story of business advantages in Mesa and the Southeast Valley also will get to corporate executives for their flights home from Falcon Field. The promotion print will be embellished with a tote bag full of marketing treasures from the city and culinary treats from Mesa businesses, including trail mix from the Lehi Valley Trading Company, oranges from the Orange Patch and cookies from Sweet Cakes restaurant, said Holly Hosac, spokeswoman for the Mesa Office of Economic Development.

Although Gateway can comfortably accommodate 200 corporate aircraft, he said that number may not be reached because distances between the Mesa airport and homes of competing teams - 2,300 miles from Boston and 2,100 from New York - are pushing the fuel capacity limits for corporate jets.