Defending a New York Super Bowl

A cold weather Super Bowl. Get your hand warmers ready because we're headed for one.

Whether you love it or hate it, later today the NFL will announce that the 2014 Super Bowl will be in New York.

Well, technically New Jersey. Doesn’t sounds as good does it?

No need to worry though.

The game will be played in New Jersey at the open-aired and beautiful New Meadowlands Stadium.

The teams would fly into New Jersey and practice there.

However, all the parties and media would be in New York, the greatest city in the world.

It has been 48 years since the NFL championship game has last been played in New York, a 16-7 win for the Packers over the Giants in front of 64,000 at Yankee Stadium. Go back one time further and you have “The Greatest Game Ever Played” in 1958 between the Colts and Giants.

No one was complaining about having the big game in cold and frigid temperatures back then and they shouldn’t be now.

It’s not like there has been perfect, sunny, 70 degree weather every Super Bowl.

Just look back to 2007, where the game was held in Miami (a possible host for this year), and there was nearly an inch of rain on the ground and winds of 20 miles per hour. Or in Detroit in 2006, where there was an inch of snow outside on the ground (the game was held in a dome). How about 2005 in Jacksonville, where the temperature was in the 50s the whole week. So much for that Florida weather.

Will Leitch, founding editor of Deadspin, has this to say: “The problem is not weather. The problem is showing visitors a pleasant time. New York, better than anywhere, with the possible exceptions of New Orleans and Miami, assures this won’t be an issue. If you can’t enjoy New York City, even in February, the issue is with you, not the venue.”

And he’s exactly right. The Super Bowl is much more than just the game. It’s about all the parties and buildup prior to the game. And what better place to host it than New York City.

Imagine the NFL Experience expo held in the Javits Center, the NFL’s official Super Bowl party at the American Museum of Natural History and the Super Bowl Saturday night concerts overlooking the city’s skyline at Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

No other city can compare to that or even come close.

The idea of weather being a deterrent is off base and over exaggerated.

The coldest game played at the Meadowlands since 2000 was in fact, the last game played at the Meadowlands this past January between the Jets and Bengals.

The game time temperature for that game for 20 degrees. I was at that game and the cold didn’t bother me one bit. It was one the best experiences I have of going to a football game and I won’t ever forget those memories.

Even if the weather is bad we’ve still seen some of the greatest games ever played in frigid conditions.

The “tuck rule game” that essentially launched the Patriots mini dynasty, the 2008 NFC Championship between the Giants and Packers with Brett Favre blowing the game by throwing a interception, and who could forget the “Ice Bowl” played between the Packers and Cowboys in negative temperatures (-13 degrees at kickoff).

A game can be great regardless of the weather. Cold weather isn’t going to prevent it.

Besides, most people that go to the Super Bowl go to be a witness and part of the event; not to enjoy some fun in the sun.

On February 2, 2014 history will be made as the first Super Bowl will be played outdoors in a cold weather city.

The greatest spectacle in sports will finally be paired with greatest city.

Below-zero temperatures or snow, the game will be played and quite frankly, I can’t wait.