On September 2, eight lucky MVC headed down to Mexico City to promote the NFL in Mexico! Amanda G, Jessie, Lissa, Melissa A, Nicole, Peyton, Tristina and I spent five fun-filled days traveling throughout and around Mexico City. Our agenda included dance performances, autograph signings, meet and greets, photo shoots, newspaper interviews, commercial shoots, and we even performed live on the morning show!
Day 1:
We landed in Mexico City, MX around 5:00 p.m. and we were welcomed by our chaperones and drivers that would be with us for the next five days. They picked us up in customized NFL/Vikings SUV’s and we headed for our hotel. When we were all settled into our rooms we met downstairs for dinner. After we ate we decided to call it a night because we knew we had a busy week ahead of us!
Day 2:
At 9:00 a.m. we were out the door and ready to go! Our first stop was a tour of Mexico City. We hopped on a double-decker bus and toured the beautiful city. Along for the ride were about 30 photographers, journalists, and local TV stations that interviewed us and took pictures while we were site seeing. After the tour we had a quick rehearsal to run through our routines and then had a few hours to rest. Later in the evening we had our first of many shows! The show (as with the rest of our shows) started with a performance. Then we had Carlos, a local comedian, join us and help lead the rest of the show. We autographed our MVC photos for fans while he entertained the crowd. Much to our surprise, he would pull us up front one-by-one to interact with fans. Sometimes it was a little difficult with the language barrier, but everyone still had a great time. Each show lasted about one and a half to two hours. We had another show later in the evening and then headed back to the hotel to get some rest.
Day 3:
Our first appearance today was promo filming for “TV Deportes,” a sports station in Mexico. We filmed commercials that would air during Monday Night Football games. They taped us performing routines together and then each of us individually. We were even able to practice our Spanish by reading some short phrases. That afternoon we met with Fox Sports and ESPN Sports for group and individual photo shoots and brief interviews. Later in the evening we attended the NFL Mexico Kick-off Party. This was a formal event that promoted Monday Night Football. Every Monday in Mexico they host parties for people to come watch and enjoy the games. We were joined by sponsors and football fans who were excited about our own upcoming MNF game.
Day 4:
On Friday morning we headed to a different television station “TV Azteca.” It was fun to be on a live set and to see how the production ran. Towards the end of their show we performed one of our routines. What a fun experience! After that we had interviews and a photo shoot for the “Reformer” which is the most popular newspaper in Mexico. We wrapped up our day of appearances with 2 more shows. One at a “Cinemax Universidad” and the other at a department store called “Liverpool.” That evening, our chaperones treated us to a fun dinner at a Mexican Restaurant with a live mariachi band. It wasn’t long before we were all on our feet dancing along side of them. It was a great way to end a long, busy day.
Day 5:
It was now Saturday and our last day of events. We started the day by heading out of the city and visiting a Children’s Orphanage, specifically for girls. I think I can speak for all eight of us when I say this was the most rewarding part of our trip. At first all the young orphan girls were shy, but within minutes everyone was dancing and laughing. We were fortunate to have a few translators with us so we could get to know all the girls too. It was hard to say goodbye, but knowing that we put smiles on all their faces and gave them warm hugs helped. We had two more shows that afternoon and ended our day with an autograph and photo session. That night we packed up our things because we had a plane to catch early the next morning. Even though we were excited to come home, we were sad for the trip to be over. Saying goodbye to our chaperones/security wasn’t easy either. They took such good care of us and we couldn’t have asked for better hosts. After a few tears, we boarded the plane and headed home to Minnesota just in time for our season opener!
Our time in Mexico City was unforgettable. It was great to meet thousands of Vikings fans in Mexico City! Thanks to NFL Mexico for the experience of a lifetime!