State Of The NFL: Playing Future Super Bowl In N.Y. Gains Steam

Some Owners Concerned About Hosting Super Bowl In New York Stadium Without A Roof

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "clearly supports awarding Super Bowl XLVIII to the Giants' and Jets' new stadium in 2014," but there is "one concern for a Super Bowl on Broadway: The weather, obviously," according to Gary Myers of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. While the stadium is not going to have a roof, Goodell in his state of the league address on Friday "gave every indication he's on board" with the idea. Goodell: "There are real benefits to the league considering this as an option." He added, "I think the idea of playing in the elements is central to the way the game of football is played. I think being able to do that and celebrate the game of football in the No. 1 market could have tremendous benefits to the league going forward." Myers noted while Goodell "doesn't have a vote and says he must remain neutral, his endorsement may be the deciding factor." Patriots Owner Robert Kraft also "will lobby other owners" for a N.Y. Super Bowl. Kraft: "I hope it's there, I hope it snows and I hope the Patriots are in the game. I think there is some real support for it. I know I personally will lobby anyone I can." However, Myers wrote Steelers Chair Emeritus Dan Rooney "has a big problem with playing the most important game of the year in potentially cold and nasty weather" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/6). Rooney said, "Are they going to put a roof on it?" When told that the new stadium would not have a roof, Rooney said, "Then I'm going to have a problem" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/7). The DAILY NEWS' Myers noted there "will be a faction of owners who will get hung up on the weather and vote against the Super Bowl on Broadway, but in the end it's likely that the respect" for late Giants co-Owners Wellington Mara and Robert Tisch "will get New York the votes" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/7).

BIGGER IN TEXAS: North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee President & CEO Bill Lively said that the host committee for next year's game is "either on schedule or ahead of schedule in most aspects of preparation and lagging in none." Lively: "We're not behind on anything that I'm concerned about." He added, "We know exactly when it's going to happen and we know how to get there. It's not rocket science, although it isn't unlike a mini-version of what a nation goes through to host an Olympics." In Ft. Worth, Ray Buck noted the committee recently hit the $17M mark in funds raised for the event and that is "just over the halfway mark, because the May 2007 winning bid came with a promise that a record" $30M would be raised. Lively: "We are confirmed now right at $17[M] in underwriting, which is a little behind where I wanted to be -- but not by much. Given the economy, I'm OK with that." Meanwhile, Buck noted Ft. Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, Arlington Mayor Bob Cluck and Irving Mayor Herbert Gears were in South Florida for Super Bowl XLIV. They were joined by Arlington Police Chief Theron Bowman, host committee members Michael Morris and Jeff Fegan and a "couple dozen host committee staff members, as well as the all-important, $1[M] sponsors of Super Bowl XLV" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/7). Also in Ft. Worth, Kathy Vetter reported a March 6 concert featuring Faith Hill in Ft. Worth will be the "first of three events in the Kick-Off Concert Series, which was created to raise funds for Host Committee activities" and is a "first among Super Bowl host committees." Sting is the second act of the series in May, and the final performer "has yet to be named" (STARTELEGRAM.com, 2/5).

A LOT AT STAKE: Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee President Mark Miles said of Goodell's state of the league address, "We believe what he said ... that there's essentially too much at stake not to have a Super Bowl in 2012 from the 2011 season." Indianapolis will host Super Bowl XLVI in '12 unless labor issues prevent the game from occurring, and Miles said the committee is "doing everything we ought to be doing to run the game to exceed" the league's expectations. Miles added that Indianapolis officials have "discussed contingency plans with the NFL if the Super Bowl is pushed back, potentially several weeks" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/6).