The National Football League (NFL) finally fulfilled a marketing dream on Tuesday by bringing their biggest game to the New York area, marking the first time the showcase event will be played outdoors in a cold climate.
A vote by the league’s 32 owners supported a bid to have the Super Bowl held in the New Meadowlands Stadium in 2014 where the New York Giants and New York Jets play their “home” games across the state line in New Jersey.
JOINT BID
The joint New York-New Jersey bid beat out offers from Florida rivals Tampa and Miami — with 14 previous Super Bowls between them.
While critics have worried that freezing and windy weather in the New York area in the winter could ruin the occasion, the winning bid’s presentation embraced the cold as being part of the game’s traditions.
‘FUN, APPROPRIATE’
“What a great place to have it, it couldn’t be a more fun or more appropriate location — it will be played outside and I hope it snows,” Jets chairman and chief executive Woody Johnson said.
“It’s absolutely fantastic for everyone that likes to watch NFL football around the world,” Giants chairman Steve Tisch said.
The NFL has traditionally insisted the Super Bowl, normally played in January or February, must be held in areas where the external temperature exceeds 10°C or in a stadium that has a closed roof.
However, the NFL’s Super Bowl Advisory Committee agreed to a waiver for 2014 to allow the Giants and Jets to submit a joint bid for their new stadium opening this year.
“The world’s biggest game will take place on the world’s biggest stage,” New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.
Miami has hosted the Super Bowl 10 times, including this year. Tampa staged the game for the fourth time last year.
Dallas (next year), Indianapolis (2012) and New Orleans (2013) will host the next three Super Bowls.
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