New York, or in reality, New Jersey was awarded the 2014 Super Bowl. The game will be played at the New Meadowlands Stadium, a $1.6 billion facility in East Rutherford, N.J., which is the first non-domed, cold weather venue to host the big game.
It took four rounds of votes by NFL owners at the NFL Spring Meeting in Irving, Texas to finalize the deal — New York/New Jersey beat out Miami and Tampa, Fla. — but in the end, owners decided to reward the area for building a new stadium, just as they’ve done in awarding Super Bowls to Dallas, Detroit and Indianapolis in recent years.
During the process, the NFL waived a rule that said the game must be held in a warm weather city or a dome. Temperatures are typically in the 20s in New Jersey in early February.
The move could clear the way for other cold weather cities, like Green Bay, to host the game in the future and Green Bay has some definite positives as a candidate.
If tradition, a recently-renovated stadium (which could get bigger in the future), a great fan experience and top-notch amenities for players are something the NFL wants — and they are — then Green Bay should be in the mix.
Unfortunately, Green Bay being as small as it is, it also has a lot of negatives that other NFL cities don’t.
Even with Milwaukee and Appleton within range, hotel space would be an issue. So would a lack of practice facilities. The limited airport traffic could be a problem as well. Super Bowls also are events and there could be a shortage of venues to host the multitude of seminars and parties that accompany the game itself. Not to mention, the average temperature in Green Bay in February is around 20 degrees. And it snows. A lot.
The temperature is a moot point, since it’s likely going to be that cold in New Jersey in February 2014, but the city’s infrastructure, as well as that of the surrounding area, would be severely tested by an event like the Super Bowl.
And that’s to say nothing of the fringe activities that take place during Super Bowl weekend. I’m going to pretend we’re all intelligent adults here and go ahead and mention the three things other Super Bowl cities, like New York, have copious supplies of and are always in high demand — prostitutes, strip clubs and drugs.
While the NFL would probably love the idea of having a Super Bowl in Green Bay, it just doesn’t seem possible for the city to handle it.
Still, if we’re dreaming, I’m sure there would be more than a few pairs of wet panties in Wisconsin if the Super Bowl came to Green Bay. For the first time in the history of the big game, the Packers would have an opportunity for home-field advantage.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Come 2014, it will be nice to see the game played where it’s supposed to be played — outside, in the cold.
[ad#totalpackers468x60]
Roger Goodell has done some good things and some bad. I think this is a bad decision. The Super Bowl is an outdoor party that happens in the sun. It’s a place where people across the country watch with green envy wishing they were there. It should never even have the remote possibility of people thinking they’re better off at home. I hope it’s 20 below zero, windy as hell, and a 3-0 thriller just so Goodell eats it. Dumb idea.
Get real and realize football is an all weather sport.Only wimps are crying about this decision.The true fan endures all for the team and sport they love,and you fucking weak ass lounge chair asshole is the jerk that doesn’t get it.Your a dome fan and are worried about the pussies that play for you.BOO HOO!!! Thats why the game is on TV,so the players play in the weather and the wimps watch at home in the warmth MORON.
Umm. I’m a Packer fan jerkoff. The Super Bowl is a showcase of the best talent the league has to offer and should be played at venues most conducive to putting the best product on the field. That means in a controlled environment or at least in outdoor environments where good weather is a fair certainty.
Playing in the cold is part of the game, but this is too big of a gamble for the biggest game of the year. It’s fucking stupid and no one will ever convince me otherwise.
I was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin and I think it would be a disgrace to have the Super Bowl there too. Not because the city and team are not worthy of such an honor, but because there is too great a probability that inclement weather will alter the outcome and tilt the scales in favor of one team. This is the Super Bowl for fucks sake.
Play the fucking Pro Bowl in NYC.