Falcons hold media availability in skating rink

HOUSTON (AP) The Atlanta Falcons' media availability Tuesday is not being held at a stadium or arena or even in a hotel ballroom.

Try a skating rink inside a Houston mall.

No, the ice isn't down at The Square at Memorial City. And only a handful of players are scheduled to meet with reporters.

Still, it's an unusual setting for a Super Bowl event, held by an Old Navy and a Cheesecake Factory.

Houston doesn't have even a minor league hockey team any more. However, there was a high school band playing as buses arrived. Some folks, perhaps puzzled by who was riding in the buses, waved to media members as the vehicles pulled up to the entrance.

The Patriots' media session had no band in sight.