American Football: need a limo for the big show?

Perhaps no single event creates as much demand for exotic stretch limousines as the Super Bowl, and this year's game, in the relatively limousine-challenged city of Jacksonville, has prompted a high-stakes frenzy worthy of a Carl Hiaasen novel, as limo owners from around the Southeast flood the town in their gas-guzzling stretch rides, mood-lights ablaze, preparing to do battle for the high-paying clientele. Robert Carle, the chief of the parking facilities and enforcement division of the city of Jacksonville, whose department inspects and issues medallions to limousines in Jacksonville, said that usually the city had around 200 active limousines; as of Friday, he said, his agency had issued 1,084 medallions, many for monster vehicles - stretch Mercedes-Benzes, BMW S.U.V.'s, Jaguars, Chrysler 300's and, of course, Hummers, the biggest you've ever seen. While Mr. Carle normally deals with local limousine companies, for the Super Bowl he has had applicants from all over the South and as far away as Omaha. Premium limousine rentals for the Super Bowl are going for up to $300 an hour, plus tip and a 10 percent surcharge for something called a "service fee," with a 30-hour minimum for the long weekend. There's also a $150 parking fee at the stadium for the land yachts.