HOUSTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Despite the absence of tailgating, there was no shortage of partying for Sunday's Super Bowl, as what has grown to become a virtual U.S. national holiday was set to kick off at Houston's NRG Stadium.
Heavy security surrounding the suburban Houston site for the NFL title clash between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons shut the door on tailgating as fans had to park remotely and ride buses to the 73,000-seat stadium.
But ticket holders were already in full party mode after a dizzying weekend of high-energy fun in the city center by an estimated 140,000 out-of-town visitors that poured in and those able to make it to the private parties dotted around the Texas oil capital.