5 Reasons Why the NFL Won't Be Sorry They Chose New York (Pt. 1/2)

Well, the owners have spoken, and history was made yesterday in Dallas, where the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey was named the host of Super Bowl XLVIII, to be played in February 2014. Being the first cold weather city with an outdoor stadium to play host to the big game, there are many skeptics. They claim that the cold, and the possibility of inclement weather will drive off fans, make it difficult for spectators to even reach the stadium, and most importantly, affect the playing on the field.

In response, I’ve compiled a list of what I believe to be the top five reasons (in no particular order) the Super Bowl belongs in the city that never sleeps.

1. The New Stadium

Jets and Giants owners Woody Johnson and John Mara raised $1.6 billion to build a state-of-the-art football cathedral. With every modern amenity, including four huge HD scoreboards, over 130,000 square feet of premium lounges, and capacity for over 80,000 fans, there is no stadium better suited to host an event as hugely important as the Super Bowl. Additionally, with the construction of the new stadium came the creation of a high capacity rail line that connects downtown New York, to the front door of the stadium, ensuring fans an easy and reliable way to reach the field, even in the case of unsafe road conditions.

2. New York City

New York has played host to many major events, from visiting popes, to championship boxing matches, to world series games, and has proven itself a fantastic venue for visitors. Every year millions of tourists visit New York for the brilliant, one-of-a-kind experience the most exciting city in the world offers. Cold temperatures and snowy conditions have never kept people from lining up in the thousands to witness New York’s various wintertime traditions including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the lighting of Rockefeller Center’s legendary Christmas tree, and Times Square’s New Year’s Eve celebration. This historic Super Bowl will be no different. The already tangible energy of New York will be heightened to new levels during the whirlwind of excitement and activity in the weeks leading up to the big game.

3. The Weather (Yes, the weather!)

Bing Crosby sang of dreaming for a White Christmas. Why doesn’t anyone dream of a white Super Bowl? Some of the most memorable games in N.F.L history have been played in freezing cold, or snowy conditions. The 1967 N.F.L championship game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, better known as the Ice Bowl, continues to be one of the most celebrated, and widely remembered football games ever, because of, not despite its game time temperature of -13°F. Compared to the temperatures in Green Bay that day, the average New York weather in February is a practically balmy 40°F.

Football is a game of brutality and toughness. Having the game in the freezing cold of winter emphasizes these facts. Watching the players battle the elements, as well as their opponents, reminds the viewers of the vicious nature of the game. Extreme conditions also allow fans in attendance to forge a unique bond with the players, as they too must brave the cold and wind to watch the players do battle on the field. And who wouldn’t love to see a victorious quarterback kiss the Lombardi trophy and have his tongue stick to the metal like Jeff Daniels in Dumb and Dumber?

Although suffering through the cold at the Meadowlands is a tradition amongst New York football fans, don’t expect Super Bowl attendees paying well over $1000 a ticket to do the same. The NY/NJ committee has already promised heated seat covers, parking lot fire-pits, and “NFL Branded Weather Specific Merchandise.” What with the Super Bowl being a profit maximizing venture, I’m sure all the suits down at the league office are licking their lips thinking of all the Super Bowl XLVIII rain slickers/parkas/winter hats/gloves/mittens/fingerless gloves/glove-mitten combo things/earmuffs/woolen socks/thermal underwear they’ll be able to sell to fans throughout the city in the weeks of partying leading up to the big game.

Update: The second installment of this post, including the final two reasons can be found here.