The comments by Giants Treasurer and N.Y./N.J. Super Bowl Host Committee co-Chair Jonathan Tisch that the region would like to be considered to host the Super Bowl "every ten years" garnered myriad reaction from columnists around the country. In N.Y., Gary Myers writes it "might be that cold is the new warm when it comes to Super Bowls." If the league decides to "do this again, then New York will have to elbow out the likely competition from Philly, Boston, Denver and Chicago." Tisch knows if Super Bowl XLVIII "is a success, New York will face a battle from other cities that think they can pull this off." Tisch said, “I think the other cold-weather cities are very much examining what goes into making Super Bowl a reality. It’s not easy. We’ve got a lot of assets in New York and New Jersey and you have to look at that continually" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/28). In Chicago, Rick Morrissey wrote under the header, "Super Bowl In New Jersey Is Super Bad Idea." Morrissey: "Does playing a game there make any sense?" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/27). In Hartford, Jeff Jacobs writes, "Maybe the NFL continues to play weather roulette and seriously entertains cold-weather outdoor ports until it is ruined." If this "isn't a one-time in 48-year deal, we'll continue to court meteorological disaster" (HARTFORD COURANT, 1/28). In Atlanta, Jeff Schultz writes under the header, "Goodell Has Put Super Bowl At An Unnecessary Risk." If this "works and by late Sunday, people aren't confusing the swamps of Jersey with Denali, Goodell will radiate." Or he "could fall face first in a snowdrift -- and that would be funny" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/28). In Jacksonville, Chet Fussman wrote, "Let's not condemn the first outdoor Super Bowl in a cold-weather climate before the game even kicks off. The guess here is, it won't be the last" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 1/27).
WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? In N.Y., Mike Lupica asked, "If this is such a great idea, how come it took 48 Super Bowls to put this theory into play?" Playing the game in N.Y./N.J. was "probably a Lifetime Achievement Award awarded to the Giants, whose history in professional football only goes back about 90 years, and to the Mara family, which not only did so much to grow the sport in this country, but has honored it as a family business the way it has." Lupica: "I'm still good with all of that." But it will be known "in a week how good an idea this was, especially if bad weather produces a bad game on the night when the country goes to a football game" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/26). In Seattle, Jerry Brewer writes there is "a reason the NFL tried to avoid wintry conditions the previous 47 Super Bowls." The game has "become such a spectacle that the league needs ideal circumstances." The game "needs to be clean, not sloppy." Brewer: "I love watching playoff games in snowy Chicago or on Green Bay’s Frozen Tundra, but those are advantages the home team has earned." The Super Bowl "isn’t that kind of game." It should be decided "in the most sterile environment possible, at least in terms of weather" (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/28).
BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE: SI's Peter King said, "They knew that there was a good chance that it was going to be a lousy weather day and very, very cold. It looks like they could escape and get pretty lucky." But King said the "biggest problem" is the 65,000 people attending the game have to get there two or three hours ahead "because of the massive security at a Super Bowl, so you’re potentially outside for seven hours in weather that could be very, very bad" ("PTI," ESPN, 1/27). Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman said, "They may luck out because it doesn't look like it’s going to be some crazy blizzard but his was just pure, unadulterated arrogance by the NFL to think that you can play Russian roulette with your primary, beautiful, best game of the year with the weather. ... If it's successful here they're not going to stop in New York. They're going to go to other cold weather cities." SI's Jim Trotter: "This is the most popular TV event in the country. And in my opinion when you stage a game like this, you want to give these players, who may never get another opportunity in this game, under the best circumstances to showcase their skill set. If it’s snowing, if it’s windy, if it’s that cold, they can’t showcase their skill set" (“Rome,” CBSSN, 1/27).
