Glauber: 2014 game a test case for future Super Bowls in the north
A file photo, an exterior view of the new Meadowlands Stadium, home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets. (April 8, 2010) Credit: AP
It wasn't even an hour after NFL owners had awarded the 2014 Super Bowl to the New York/New Jersey contingent on Tuesday that the calls began for more outdoor Super Bowls in northern cities.
Redskins owner Daniel Snyder was the first to sing the praises of a Super Bowl in the nation's capital. Speculation turned to New England as a future site. Denver and Seattle, too. Even Green Bay, the NFL's smallest market, entered the discussion when Packers president Mark Murphy said he was intrigued by the possibility of a Super Bowl on the Frozen Tundra.
Roger Goodell's response to all the lobbying: Relax, OK?
"Each game will be evaluated on an individual basis,'' the NFL commissioner said. "I do believe New York is a unique market, and the membership recognized that. I'm confident the bid they put together will turn out to be a great event."
In other words, there still is a long way to go before the NFL will consider another outdoor Super Bowl in a northern city.
"This is about New York and a unique situation,'' Goodell said. "I think a lot of factors were at play, [including] a new stadium, which is tough to get done. The specialness of the city and everything associated with New York and New Jersey made it a compelling argument.''
It remains to be seen whether that compelling argument eventually will become a trend. Snyder certainly seems to think it will, at least as far as a Super Bowl in Washington, D.C. is concerned. He is hopeful of combining the lure of a new stadium built in the downtown area with a Super Bowl bid.
"We're looking forward to hosting a Super Bowl in the nation's capital,'' he said.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has indicated publicly that he doesn't expect to get a Super Bowl in New England, but his ardent support for the New York/New Jersey game suggests he wouldn't be opposed if the issue came up. Same with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen.
But this much seems certain before another outdoor Super Bowl in a northern city is approved: NFL owners will need to evaluate just how well or how poorly the 2014 game at the New Meadowlands Stadium comes off.
If Super Bowl week goes off without a hitch, then the owners will be much more likely to give strong consideration to future outdoor games in cold-weather cities. But if there are unforeseen circumstances - most likely because of severe weather conditions - then all bets are off.
"I think we'll have to judge the game on its merits,'' said Raiders chief executive officer Amy Trask, who hopes to bring a Super Bowl to Oakland once the team can secure approvals for a new stadium. "You look at each Super Bowl, and you approach it with an independent analysis.''
That means the earliest we could see another cold-weather Super Bowl would not be until 2018. Because Super Bowls are awarded four years in advance, the owners almost certainly will wait until after the 2014 Super Bowl before making any judgments on future games in northern cities.
All of which means the New York/New Jersey experience has a make-or-break element that likely will determine what happens next.
"We realize people will be looking at us, and that means we've got to rise to the occasion,'' said Giants treasurer Jonathan Tisch, co-chairman of the New York/New Jersey bid. "We think we've got a great plan. Now it's time to put it in motion.''
A lot is riding on this one. How much? Everything.
