January 31, 2008 7:45AM

‘I am as Star Struck as Anyone’

By Alexis Glick

Just arrived in Phoenix, and we’re sitting on the runway. You know me and my luck! The flight was delayed a couple hours. It’s almost midnight Phoenix time and the person meeting me for hair and makeup is scheduled to be at my hotel room at 2:30am. Yeah, that’s right! My poor producer Yvette, she’s a worry wart. She’s definitely having a panic attack. That’s why we love her. She’s one of the best in the business. A former ESPN producer (and bigwig) who knows every athlete and coach on the planet. We love her!

Anyhow, sitting on the plane in Phoenix now for about 20 minutes on the ground. Just think it adds to the excitement :). You would think that my Irish blood would hook me up with a little good luck from time to time right? Not when there’s a clock ticking :).

On today’s show, we’re talking about the economy in Phoenix. Did you know they hosted the Super Bowl in 1996? One of the reasons why the Super Bowl is now back in Phoenix is because they built a $455 million football stadium in Glendale for the University of Phoenix. It has a retractable roof and a rollout natural-grass field. Pretty cool! I’m not sure that I have ever been in a stadium with a retractable roof. Have you? Capacity 63,400 expandable during big events like this to 73,000. Since 1996, the city and developers have spent billions of dollars ($3B in the downtown area alone) to improve the infrastructure. New roads, new convention center, tons of new restaurants and new hotels. It’s estimated Phoenix could make $400 million dollars off of the Super Bowl. Not bad! In fact, Phoenix is now the fifth-largest city in the Country.

And get this: Rooms at Scottsdale’s 5-star resorts are going for $3,000 a night (four-night minimum). Glendale Airport, which is near the stadium, usually handles four flights a day will park 100 corporate jets this week. The average price of tickets sold on StubHub is currently $4,227. The Super Bowl host committee’s “big ticket gala” costs $10,000 if you’d like a NFL Hall of Famer to grace your table. Tickets to the Playboy and Maxim parties, notorious for hosting the week’s top parties, are going for $2,000 to $3,000. I cannot believe that! I’ve never heard of anything like this in my life. So much for a recession :). VIP tickets to the “Super Village” in Scottsdale, where events such as a celebrity flag-football game with Pamela Anderson and Matt Leinart are going for $500. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? This is insane!

Now in the car with my partner in crime Melissa Tabatabai. She just picked me up at the hotel (at 3:15 a.m.). In my next life, I plan to sleep. Today we are one of only two networks interviewing Bob Kraft (the owner of the New England Patriots). I am really excited! He’s a great guy and a fellow Columbia University alum. Ironically, I graduated from Columbia with one of his sons, David. Small world! You think he’d considering hiring me :)? Can you imagine the stats he has under his belt? He won the 2001, 2003 and 2004 season Super Bowls and if he wins this Sunday, the Pats will become the second team in NFL History to win four titles in seven years.

Oh, in case you’re wondering, the Pats have a 5-3 edge in their all-time series with the Giants and have won four straight. BUT, the Giants are on a winning streak. They have won 10 games on the road, the first to do that in NFL history and Eli Manning has been flawless. Since they played the Pats on week 17, the Giants offense has gone 33 possessions and 194 plays without a turnover.

This is history in the making. It gives me goose bumps. Honestly, how psyched are you?

Almost at our location for the show. Just picked up large Diet Cokes from McDonald’s for a little boost of energy. My favorite! There’s nothing like a big fountain soda even if it’s not good for you. See you on TV. Don’t forget I’ll be on from 7-10 a.m. and my interviews will be online. I’ll continue to give you the behind the scenes inside scoop and anlaysis. Meeting Elway later today. Very cool. So cool. Out of this World cool

Oh and in case you’re wondering, I am as star struck as anyone. Bought four Giants jersey’s and a Tom Brady jersey. Hoping to get them signed for my boys