Blown Away: Allowing New Meadowlands To Host 2014 Super Bowl Is Poor Decision

Everyone is talking about the Super Bowl being played in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at the New Meadowlands Stadium, because it might be a little on the cold side.

A quick stroll through the World Wide Web reveals that the average temperature during February in East Rutherford is 37 degrees, and every sports media outlet will cram that number down your throat.

But everyone is missing the real issue, and I can’t believe it.

The NFL is a league that is so anal-retentive they make Bill Belichick seem like Bing Crosby on Christmas Day. They don’t miss anything. They cover every minor detail, and they let you know about it.

Well, they are either dodging one major issue about the new home of the Giants and Jets when it comes to hosting Super Bowl XLVIII, or they completely forgot about it.

Wind.

I don’t care about the temperature during game day. Oh, you’re cold? Put on a hat. Oh, you’re really cold? Wear a jacket too.

Just stop crying like a Nancy-boy.

The cold weather won’t affect the game at all. Not one bit.

The wind on the other hand? Well, that invisible beast can drastically determine who wins or loses a game.

Considering the old home of the Giants and Jets was a glorified wind tunnel, I cannot believe the NFL did not wait to see how the stadium played this year, before making a decision about the stadium hosting the most important sporting event in America.

In an article written by Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger , Frank Falciani, project executive for stadium contractor Skanska said, “I don’t think (the wind is) going to be any worse than what it was in the old Giants Stadium; as a matter of fact, I think it may be a little bit better."

I don’t want, “think,” I don’t want, “maybe,” and I don’t want, “good possibilities.” I want to know for a fact that wind is not going to be a concern at the NFL’s latest and greatest palace.

A story written by Gina Cherundolo on AccuWeather.com said, “AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said the normal game time conditions would see a temperature in the 30s at kickoff with winds 10-20 mph, but it will be unlikely for the actual conditions to match the normal.”

So, if the actual conditions are unlikely to match the normal, we could be looking at a steady wind of 30 mph. Yes, the other side is true, and the winds may be nonexistent. But don’t you want to see how the stadium handles windy conditions?

Who knows if the stadium will actually produce a swirling wind that plays havoc on kickers?

It really baffles me that the NFL is not considering this.

How can a league that is dominated by passing attacks not look into this? How can a league that puts skirts on their quarterbacks not take the most drastic weather condition into account for the protection of the most important player on the field?