The NFL tried to assuage football fans who are worried that Super Bowl XLVIII, which will be held at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands in the New York/New Jersey region in 51 weeks, will be an Ice Bowl played in treacherous conditions.
Nearly 30 inches of snow fell on the northeast due to a blizzard that pounded the region on Friday, nearly a week after the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
Al Kelly, the president and CEO of the New York and New Jersey Super Bowl host committee, said in a statement released before the blizzard that the host committee’s job is to be prepared for all circumstances.
“As it pertains to a clean-up effort, MetLife Stadium has excellent snow clearing procedures,” Kelly said in his statement. “The host committee is currently working with stadium officials to enhance its current top-notch capabilities. Both states — New York and New Jersey — and New York City have strong track records preparing for and handling adverse weather conditions and we have every confidence that we will be prepared.”
Before the Super Bowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about a possible “Ice Bowl” in 2014 and he also said the NFL and New York and New Jersey would be ready.
“The game of football is made to be played in the elements,” Goodell said. “Now, we hope they’re not extreme, on one hand. But we’ll be prepared for that if that’s the case. Some of our most classic games were played in extreme weather conditions. You know them all: The Ice Bowl. Some of the games that I look back as a fan and say, ‘That was fun.'”
Some football fans immediately questioned the selection of the Meadowlands to host the 2014 Super Bowl because MetLife Stadium is not a dome stadium and the region has unpredictable weather and frigid temperatures in the winter.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.