INDIANAPOLIS -- During Super Bowl XLVI, thousands of volunteers worked to make the event a huge success, and the Super Bowl Host Committee wanted to show them how much they were appreciated.

Special Section: Super Bowl

More than 8,000 Super Bowl volunteers packed the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday for an appreciation party. Event organizers said the volunteers put in more than 150,000 hours to show football fans the true meaning of Hoosier hospitality, RTV6's Tanya Spencer reported.

"I think Indianapolis showed the world what we already knew. We let our actions speak louder than our words," host committee member Dianna Boyce said.

Volunteer Brad Woemener said volunteering during the Super Bowl celebration was quite an experience.

“I had a blast. I'm glad I did it, and I got to meet a lot of people,” he said.

Other volunteers said the party was mostly about celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"This is wonderful. What a great way to end this whole thing,” one volunteer said.

Many volunteers said they’d gladly participate again if Indianapolis gets to host another Super Bowl.