Nicollet Mall transformed for Super Bowl LIVE kickoff

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The big game is more than a week away, but the Super Bowl festivities in the Twin Cities kick off on Friday. 

On Nicollet Mall, the concert stage is set and the snow awaits skiers on the Birkie Bridge.

Marty Harding and Gary Noren both live in Minneapolis and came down to the Nicollet Mall to test out the bridge before downtown becomes the center of the universe.

“It’s just exciting—it’s all preparations and weird stuff everywhere and you kind of wonder what it’s going to be like,” said Harding.

“We actually came down here to see if we could ski across the Birkie bridge—we brought our skis,” said Noren. “They’re aren’t allowing it until tomorrow apparently, so there you go.”

Three years of detailed planning finally comes to fruition Friday evening when Idina Menzel opens up Super Bowl LIVE with her famous song "Let it go" from Frozen. Super Bowl LIVE opens up to the public at 4 p.m. on Friday. The event is a ten-day affair spanning from 6th to 12th Streets with all sorts of concerts, entertainment and food.

“There are ice sculptures, tents are up,” said Andrea Mokros, spokeswoman of the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee. “We are ready for food trucks to pull up tomorrow. We even have our 360 movie that’s ready to go. We’re hoping everyone is excited to come down and have a party.”

This will be the first time the NFL has showcased a 360 Super Bowl dome. It’s a free movie and simulated ride experience where you're in a heated planetarium watching everything you ever wanted to know about football. Chris Stackhouse, the art director for the NFL, says they created this just for Super Bowl LII.

“It’s been a really interesting challenge to work in a city like this and in temperatures like this and it’s forced us to work very differently and very creatively to bring Super Bowl to life,” said Stackhouse.

Logistics and transportation to get to downtown are set, the snow has fallen - all Nicollet Mall needs now is the fans.