From the Archives: Super Bowl XIV off-field action

The Super Bowl XIV pregame tailgate parties were limited. About 8,000 parking spaces were closed because of recent rain.

This photo, by Los Angeles Times staff photographer Ken Hively, accompanied a story about off-the-field activities at the Super Bowl by writer Alan Maltun:

The game outside the Rose Bowl was almost as breathtaking as the one that followed inside Sunday. The object was to get all the fans, including a number who had their tickets stolen, inside the stadium before the kickoff.

Virtually all the crowd of more than 103,000 made it, but not without a lot of shoving and crowding shortly before game time.

And starting in the early morning hours, there was a general air of festivity — often lubricated by strong drink — among the early arrivals. ...

Maitun reported that some 200 tickets were stolen, 17 people were treated for injuries, 115 arrests were made, $5,000 of illegal souvenirs were confiscated, and a boxful of wallets — most apparently discarded by pickpockets — awaited return to owners.

And, oh yes, on the field, the Steelers won 31-19.

This post was originally published on Jan. 21, 2011.