5 Reasons Why the NFL Won't Be Sorry They Chose New York (Pt. 2/2)

Earlier today I listed first three reasons why the Super Bowl and New York are a good fit. Now I’ll detail the final two:

4. New opportunities for other cold weather venues

Say what you will about the N.F.L’s exemption of New York/New Jersey from a rule requiring a host city to have a minimum average high temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit being a one time deal, but this selection sets a precedent. Although the league is completely within its rights to reject future cold weather would-be-hosts, the owners of these clubs will be rightfully unhappy. One of the most outspoken advocates of the New York Super Bowl campaign was Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. The Pats also within the past few days have announced massive improvements to Gillette Stadium, with the addition of massive HD video screens, that according to Kraft “excluding Dallas, they’ll be the largest.” I am of the opinion that these two actions aren’t unrelated. Would it be so shocking to believe Kraft and the Patriots are looking forward to a Super Bowl campaign of their own? And would such a Super Bowl be such a bad idea?

I Think not. The Super Bowl atmosphere in Boston would be electric, and New England football fans are rabid. They would relish every second of the celebration, making it another great experience for the N.F.L. While certain venues would be atrocious, (imagine a Cleveland based Bowl) other northern cities would be fantastic hosts. Imagine the big game finally visiting the great northwest in Seattle, or being played on the hallowed ground of Lambeau Field. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has already made his pitch for a D.C. Super Bowl clear, saying “I think Washington should get one, no matter what. It is the nation’s capital.” All of these settings would breathe new life into the Super Bowl, and would put their own unique spin on the proceedings.

5. Leveling the Playing Field

The final reason why cold weather venues deserve the Super Bowl is that playing in cold and inclement weather will give cold weather teams a competitive advantage over warm weather, and domed teams. While this may seem unfair, no one complains that domed or warm weather teams have an unfair advantage in pristine conditions. Cold weather teams are built to succeed in the wind and snow, both through style of play and experience, just like domed teams are built to win in good conditions, often running more wide-open passing offenses than their snowy counterparts. The “Purple People Eaters” Minnesota Vikings teams of the 1970s dominated at home throughout the regular season and playoffs, but never won a Super Bowl. Why? Because they were forced to abandon their style of play, designed for the snowy fields of Minnesota, and compete on the warm fields of the south. By forcing all teams to play in perfect conditions for the Super Bowl, the current system is no more fair than hosting the Super Bowl in Green Bay every single year. Therefore, allowing cold weather venues equal opportunity to host Super Bowls is the only way to afford each team an equal chance of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy on the first Sunday of February.

Well there you have it. The top five reasons the N.F.L won’t be sorry they chose New York. It remains to be seen how hosting the big game in a cold weather venue will affect fan attendance and demand. The best way to gauge ticket demand, and fan excitement is through ticket prices, and no one analyzes ticket prices like SeatGeek, so continue to check out seatgeek.com for the best ticket deals, and our Ticketbeat reports for unique, in depth analysis of the latest trends in sports and music, and if SB XLVIII is a success, don’t be surprised to see many frosty Super Bowls in the not-so-distant future.

Find the first half of the list here.