From the looks of things, the NFL’s vote on Tuesday to determine the site of the Super Bowl in 2014 is a mere formality. The game will never be bigger than it can be on Broadway, and all indications are the big game will be awarded to New York with the Giants and Jets opening up a shiny new football palace this season in the Meadowlands.
As Gary Myers of the New York Daily News reports, support for the Big Apple is strong and he called it the “overwhelming favorite” over South Florida and Tampa to land Super Bowl XLVIII.
Consider that influential New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is strongly behind the movement to put the game in New York.
“Doing it in New York is the right thing for a lot of reasons," Kraft told Myers. "I've been going to Patriots game for 50 years up here. I personally believe all football should be played outdoors. Our league was founded on winter football with the Ice Bowl. Our sport is about resilience, mental toughness, adjustments. I think it will be a great experience for the fans. A memorable experience."
The theme being pitched by New York is that some of the most historic games in league history have been played in frigid environments. The Ice Bowl between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers stands as one of the most memorable games ever. The Giants and Packers played an exciting NFC title game in snowy conditions at Lambeau Field three seasons ago.
Myers points out that the last time the game was in Miami a driving rain storm soaked fans during Super Bowl XLI. The league wants more than $200 million in improvements made to SunLife Stadium before it will get another Super Bowl and there are no indications that will happen. Tampa has already had the Super Bowl four times. Then, there is the 9/11 element to playing the game in New York, even if it will be more than 12 years after the terrorist attacks.
“We are with you (New York)," Kraft said. "All of America is with you. This would be good for the country. It's good for America. It's good for the NFL. It says, "Whatever challenges, we are resilient people. We're back and we're doing things."
Sounds like a slam dunk for the folks of New York, who could get an estimated $550 million boost to the economy.
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