The NFL has contingency plans to delay Super Bowl XLVIII, scheduled for Feb. 2, as much as a week due to weather-related issues, said NFL Senior VP/Events Frank Supovitz. Speaking after a press briefing in the parking lot of MetLife Stadium this morning to tout the region’s preparedness for staging the NFL’s first outdoor cold weather Super Bowl, Supovitz called the chances of a week’s delay “infinitesimal," describing a Hurricane Sandy-type situation as the spark for such a lengthy postponement.
The league is also looking at delays of a just a few hours to a day or two depending on weather. The NFL would consider holding the event a day early if the weather forecast determined that was the best route, he said. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would make a final decision, Supovitz said. The league is discussing with Fox, this year’s broadcaster, programming options in the event of a time change, Supovitz said. Such discussions have occurred for previous Super Bowls, but those were not as pointed and serious as the current talks.
Whatever happens, MetLife Stadium will be ready to get rid of snow, with melters, salt, plows, and 1,600 staff ready to clear the stuff. MetLife typically has 800 staff ready to clear snow for a Jets or Giants game.
