Topic: pre TAR 25 speculation+ Start Line DIscussion *Be a Part of History!*

[docol]

i've been dying for watching a season start from the very starting line.....now the ppl from NY got the chance to do it...! im soooooooooo jealous 

[Vitoko]

I think that we should pay attention to peach..

Who's the face of The Amazing Race... Phil Keoghan... His birthday is on May 31st... I think the entire first leg will be a celebration not only to the 25th season of TAR... but what if this public event becomes Phil's birthday party, maybe this is a hint to Lincoln, New Zealand, Phil's birthplace as the first destination...

Can you imagine a full Time Square singing Happy Birthday to the host that has travelled the world for 25 seasons... that could be pretty cool... maybe his father will reappeared as a greeter. ..

According to wikipedia his wife has a bed and breakfast on Rolleston, New Zealand. .. possible pitstop? His wide as the greeter?

I would love to see the first leg be all about Phil's life and the celebration of his birthday. 

[Alenaveda]

Does anyone think maybe Argentina? Or really anywhere in South America? They haven't been to Argentina since TAR20 and haven't spent much time in SA in a while. 

Argentina is entering winter now; so unless they pretend to show more of the typical winter locations like Bariloche, I would expect a coming in the December filming (spring/summer in this part of South America).

[theschnauzers]

I want everyone to think about something.

Why is CBS making a fuss about this?

It is an anniversary.

Anniversary of what?? 

Oh....

And what happened on leg 1 then?
 
OHHHH. 
 
Just an idea....

GMTA.

[walkingpneumonia]

03:00 is a strange time to start. Lets think about why they are starting so early.

1. you want thousands of drunken NY’ers exiting their chi-chi bars after a night of drinking participating in the start line event. This probably isn’t the reason.
2. They have to catch a very early flight. Much more likely.

Now - which flight?
Assume the flight is before 10:00 - otherwise you could start the race later in the day.
TPTB also like to be able to have flight choices for the 1st leg. i.e. the teams that finish the start line challenge 1st get the 1st flight etc… and they like to have an early flight to get Phil there first.

There are 3 international airports within reasonable transit/taxi/driving: LGA (Laguardia), JFK (John F Kennedy), EWR (Newark)
LGA - international “bunched” flights excluding Canada from 06:00 to 10:00:
nothing
JFK - international “bunched” flights excluding Canada from 06:00 to 10:00:
London    BA 180    British Airways    07:15 18:55
London    VS 26    Virgin Atlantic    07:40 19:40
London    BA 178    British Airways    08:15 20:05
EWR - international flights excluding Canada from 06:00 to 10:00:
Hmmm, this is interesting
London    VS 18 Virgin Atlantic    07:15 18:54
London    UA 922 United Airlines    09:00 21:20

From my analysis - I’m going to bet heavily on London being either the first leg or a connection to another flight.
Send Phil off on BA180 at 07:15 and let the teams travel on VS76 or BA178 or even UA922 from EWR 
It could be fun if the teams aren't told which airport to go to...
Any NY'er (who aren't drunk) willing to hang out at JFK or EWR Saturday morning?

[GMR 602]

Simply out, this is a throwback to season 1.

If they went anywhere but South Africa, I would be completely surprised.

They have NEVER set off for Africa as a leg 1 destination, except for season 1.

I would be in contact with Victoria falls and Songwe village too just in case!

While not a complete rerun of season one, it will only be fitting if they went to a lot of the places with a new country thrown in here and there

[couchracer]

This is so amazingly awesome. I love the thought of former racers there to cheer on 25. I wish I could go. Love Neobie's thought of picking a racer or 2 from the fans. Love nmccarroll91's nighttime start, which is from the city that never sleeps. 3AM is a matchbox 20 song too. Just 11 hours to go.

[redwings8831]

Maybe self-driving to Montreal/Quebec/Atlantic Canada? Could get to Montreal or Quebec City by noon/early afternoon with a 3 AM start.

[Neobie]

Season 1's flights to Johannesburg via Zurich and Milan don't work for a 3am start, but these flights do:

SA 204 from New York to Johannesburg, 1115-0800
Multiple flights from New York via London to Johannesburg, earliest arrival 0905

Agree with WP that London looks likely too!

[walkingpneumonia]

Sarah Cunningham ‏@sarahjeancu  1h 
 Phil from Amazing Race walked by me in Central Park and my mom starts fangirling like a 10 year old seeing One Direction

Wonder if they were near the Bethesda Plaza?

[linke3]

Sarah Cunningham ‏@sarahjeancu  1h 
 Phil from Amazing Race walked by me in Central Park and my mom starts fangirling like a 10 year old seeing One Direction

Wonder if they were near the Bethesda Plaza?

It looks like they were!! (http://instagram.com/p/oofW2RThIo/). I'm going to try to make to out there tonight! (I'll be watching a movie at around 9ish with my boyfriend in Times Square).

[Kiwi Jay]

Judging on that camera with Phil (and Bertram) I think they are talking about where it all began 24 seasons ago...Bethesda Fountain. Might appear at the beginning of Episode 1. I just get the feeling, as Peach does, they might be heading to the motherland...AFRICA for the first leg! Excited for this evening!

[theschnauzers]

3 AM isn't such a strange time especially if teams have to catch an early flight out of NYC. I think that Instantgram is a big hint, and it looks like my hope of what the 10th year anniversary season would have been may be what season 25 will be. I think London is a connection and not a destination, as they've been to London a couple of times the last few seasons. Africa, though, hasn't been visited in a while, and the area in Africa that's safest for Americans right ow is South Africa.

[couchracer]

To mimic, yet not repeat, the beginning of amazing race, they could fly to Johannesburg or Durban South Africa. Then drive to the Oribi Gorge and the bungee swing from there. And other stuff too.

[Alenaveda]

Sarah Cunningham ‏@sarahjeancu  1h 
 Phil from Amazing Race walked by me in Central Park and my mom starts fangirling like a 10 year old seeing One Direction

Wonder if they were near the Bethesda Plaza?

It looks like they were!! (http://instagram.com/p/oofW2RThIo/). I'm going to try to make to out there tonight! (I'll be watching a movie at around 9ish with my boyfriend in Times Square).

, linke3!  to the R.F.F.!

[Alenaveda]

Here's the Instagram pic:

[wishicouldrun]

  Do we have any idea where in Times Square the starting line will be? I do not want to wander around by myself- rather have a destination and try to park nearby! Bryant Park is a big open space where teams can meet and do a task; the center of Times Square where the crowd gathers for New Years; the theaters; the less than welcoming side streets.  I assume the starting line has to be a relatively big open space which limits choices within Times Square . Also, for the non-New Yorkers, Times Square is at 42nd Street, Central Park starts at 59th Street and Bethesda Plaza is further north and west into the park. However, for tonight, there is a chance of a "passing shower" so I hope this does not interfere with any tasks!

[WorldTraveler]

The announcement on the NEWS section of the CBS Amazing Race page is gone now. Not sure what that means. Perhaps they'll put updated instructions soon.

[NMC]

Every season I get excited for the Start of the race, but this time, I just CAN NOT WAIT!!!!! 
After watching the spoilers the last 2 seasons, I was adamant I wouldn't spoil this season, but with soooooooooo much hype behind it, and the chances of it being AMAZING, I really won't have any choice but to follow what's happening.      

I'd absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it, if they had two groups at the Start Line, 1 consisting of all the crazy fans and the other of all the greatest teams!
How awesome would it be too have the Cowboys, Globes, Mopper, Margie & Luke, Goths, Afghanimals, Charla & Mirna, Gallory, Beauty Queens, Romber, Brooke & Clare, all the past winners, and all the other fantastic teams I'm missing, standing there to wave off the new bunch!!!
AHHHH I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!   

[Caelestor]

Times Square will probably be the broadcast location to hype up the 25th edition, with Bethesda Fountain as the starting line of the race. From there, the race will head eastward, but pretty much any country in Europe and even Africa/North America is in play.

[Alenaveda]

 ,  to the R.F.F., WorldTraveler!

[WorldTraveler]

,  to the R.F.F., WorldTraveler!

Thank you! I am thinking of heading up to NYC to photograph this tonight, but the only drawback is, I have to be in Philadelphia at 8 AM, and have no idea of what the timing will be for everything.

[Tar25fan]

I am not going anymore but I am happy there's people here who will be there. I'll wait for the pictures of the starting line and hopefully of all of the teams at the airport. I also hope it will be known what is the first destination. I hope they pick a country that has not been the first one yet to be visit, like Belgium, but if they go to South Africa (which I don't think it's going to happen) it would be cool too. Really hope they dont go to UK, Germany and Switzerland

[SamualDude]

We haven't had a africa start since TAR1 and what better way to have a throwback to TAR1 than a New York start and a South Africa first destination.

[Jobby]

I wouldn't even mind if they do a a season solely on Switchbacks, the most epic tasks in the history of TAR, and get the teams who made certain tasks epic be the clue giver!