Coldest Super Bowl in history: 2 degrees at kickoff

MINNEAPOLIS — They billed Super Bowl LII as the “Bold North,” and it certainly lived up to those expectations. While the temperature outside U.S. Bank Stadium was a balmy 2 degrees at kickoff, they hovered at or below zero for most of the day with windchills up to 25 below. That easily made it the coldest Super Bowl in history.

“A lot of people kept saying Super Bowl in February in Minnesota, this sounds like a terrible idea,” said Eric Dayton, a local entrepreneur who spearheaded the effort to bring the Super Bowl to Minneapolis. “Well, I think it is a great idea and it has been so fun to see all of these out-of-towners outdoors experiencing what we have to offer.”

For many, that meant waiting outdoors in dangerous conditions to clear the Level 1 security perimeter and enter the stadium. Most fans, though, were prepared for the elements. Some, it seemed, even enjoyed them. Fans were able to pose for pictures in front of the Super Bowl logo while holding a large thermometer to document the extent of their adventure. Inside, the temperature was a comfortable 70 degrees, although the glass windows behind either end zone allowed a glimpse of the chilliness and the snow that was piled up on the glass ceiling was a reminder of what awaited for the postgame departure.

Here, according to The Weather Channel, is a look at the previous coldest temperatures at kickoff for the big game:

Temp // SB // Site // Date

16 // Super Bowl XVI // Pontiac, Mich. // Jan. 24, 1982

26 // Super Bowl XXVI // Minneapolis // Jan. 26, 1992

30 // Super Bowl XL // Detroit // Feb. 5, 2006

By Tom Rock

tom.rock@newsday.com@TomRock_Newsday

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.