Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
An outdoor cold-weather Super Bowl at last
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Imagine a halftime show where the glare of fireworks reflects off of falling snowflakes. Cut to Times Square and other iconic Manhattan tourist destinations where the noise of shouting fans is capturing in clouds of frozen breath. Look for a crowd dressed more for snowboarding than for hitting up nightclubs after the game.
With Tuesday’s announcement that the new $1.6 billion dollar stadium shared by the New York Giants and Jets will host the 2014 Super Bowl, many fans conjure up memories of classic cold weather games. The NFL is treating the decision to host the Super Bowl in a cold weather outdoor stadium as an exception rather than the start of a potential trend. South Florida and Tampa were the two other location considered to host.
Given the 50-degree rule that the NFL uses in deciding potential outdoor locations for the Super Bowl, there is an ingrained sense of nostalgia attached to memories of cold weather championships. In 1967 the Green Bay Packers played the Dallas Cowboys in the championship game dubbed the “Ice Bowl”. 50,000 fans sat in freezing temperatures and witnessed one of the greatest games in the history of American football.
Obviously New York’s combination of a new stadium and media market provided it with a huge advantage in bringing the Super Bowl north to an outdoor stadium. While we don’t yet know if the new stadium will have the same swirling winds of the old Giants Stadium, I am excited, not only as a New Yorker, but as a football fan. Playing in the elements is part of the game and it should be reflected in all levels of the playoffs.
What do you think of a cold weather championship game? And when will other classic football areas like Green Bay and Chicago get a chance?
PHOTO: Kevin Gorassi reacts to the announcement that New York City has been chosen for the 2014 Super Bowl site in New York’s Times Square May 25, 2010. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi
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As a Steeler fan living in NYC who has braved the cold to attend many a Dec/Jan game, I think it’s great that the Superbowl will finally be held in one of the greatest sports cities in the US! Kudos to the clubs. Teams need to prove themselves in harsh conditions to get there, so I don’t see anything with the ultimate contest being decided at cold weather venue. Besides, getting bundled up in your gear is half the fun!
This is a wonderful idea until your team loses the Super Bowl on a bad handoff due to inclimate conditions. Also, I disagree with the authors assertion that the NY media market was needed to draw the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl sells itself, you could play it in Helena, Montana and it would sell out, not much to do Super Bowl week in Helena, but the game would sell out.