The Northeast is bracing for another super storm. It's winter time in the Tri-State area and when it's cold enough outside and there's precipitation in the air, it snows. Now that we got our lesson in meteorology out of the way, allow me to explain why I bothered to enlighten the uneducated that reside in the front office of the NFL. Super Bowl XLVII was five days ago. Next year the big game will be in New York...well actually New Jersey. The game will be played outside at MetLife Stadium where there is no retractable roof. Snow is one thing, but a blizzard is another. The weather is as unpredictable as a Tim Tebow pass. Why would the NFL take a chance on having the Super Bowl outdoors in potentially severe weather conditions? Just like with any other question about the NFL, the answer is money. The league will no doubt cash in on having the Super Bowl near the Big Apple. But on the other hand it could be a total disaster.
What if there's a blizzard and/or high gusty winds during the Super Bowl. Not only would the players not want to play but the fans won't even want to go. I'm not saying they won't go, I'm just saying they'd rather not.
How's Media Day going to look when Deion Sanders has icicles hanging from his nose while interviewing the players? Well probably pretty funny but let's be real people. Are they going to have heaters all over the field or simply start a huge fire at the 50 yard line.
I understand football is a cold weather game and most of the regular season match ups occur in winter weather. But games have been cancelled due to weather in the past. Is it even possible to postpone the Super Bowl? In that case the NFL would lose a ton of money. Even if the game isn't postponed, fans traveling in from other states may not want to stay for the entire Super Bowl week because the conditions aren't suitable for a vacation at this time of year.There are enough problems and issues to worry about that are within the leagues control. The possibility of lousy weather or even worse a snowstorm would spin the Super Bowl out of control. Why risk it? It just doesn't make any sense to me! I mean the lights went out at this years Super Bowl in New Orleans. Imagine something like that happened outside in the freezing cold!
Furthermore it's unfair to warm weather and dome teams to have to play in wintry conditions when the majority of their games are in 70 degree temperatures. If the Bears play against the Dolphins or Colts, explain to me how Chicago doesn't have the advantage! We all love to see the best players play and I for one would rather see them on a level playing field in supreme conditions so we can get the best game possible. It's not like we don't get to see games in the snow or in freezing temperatures. It happens every year and more often than not it's 2 weeks before in the conference championships. So everyone who wants to see great teams play in the cold, just watch every other week.
I live in New York, born and raised and I love it here. But having the Super Bowl here, or in any other outdoor stadium in a cold weather city is just dumb in my opinion and it leaves the league vulnerable to conditions outside of their control. Of course it's very possible that it will be 50 degrees and clear skies this time next year. If that happens then every cold weather city will bid to host the Super Bowl. Odds are at some point the NFL will run into a major problem.
On top of all that - the i95 will be jam packed! hahaha -- it's all weird how they'd do it too - most of the "festivities" will be in New York City and the game is obviously across the bridge in New Jersey. Although I guess I shouldn't complain b/c it's obvious the Bears will be in the Super Bowl next year and it's an easier trip for me . . .
ReplyDeleteMan, I just had the Super Bowl here down in New Orleans, and the weather was beautiful. Anyway, I agree 100% with your point. I really think that teams like the Bears, Patriots, Seahawks, Packers, Bills, Giants, and Jets will benefit from this type of weather. It will not be good, but remember a soaky Super Bowl XLI in Miami between the Colts and Bears?
ReplyDeleteHaha Gee nice. Hey the Bears could be there and if they play a dome or warm weather team it will definitely be their advantage.
ReplyDeleteYes it did rain in 2006 in that SB but it was still warm. I'm not saying play all super bowls in a dome. I understand rain can be a factor but the NFL is putting themselves in an awful position with this. If you could see what it looks like in the Northeast right now you'd probably agree 1000% haha. And Goodell is so on board with this. He is starting to bother me in a bunch of different ways. I started out really liking Goodell but I know think he's on a major power trip.
I think places such as Miami, San Diego, and the new 49ers stadium in Santa Clara (will open in 2014)are nice places. However, cities in the North need to have their share. Its not fair that northern fans have to make the trip down South while the Southern people don't have to travel as far.
DeleteI wrote a letter from the NFL to the fans on my blog, speaking of Roger Goodell.
Football is meant to be played outdoors, in the elements - NOT in "supreme conditions". The CFL plays the Grey Cup outdoors in the cold often - and it doesn't take away from that game, it adds to it.
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree. While there is no doubt some of the great games in NFL history have taken place in cold weather. Cold weather is not the problem tho. It's the snow. If it snows like it did in the Northeast this weekend they would have to consider postponing the game. That's the issue.
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