Cold Weather Super Bowl

The 2009 NFL season and Super Bowl XLIV have concluded but the topic of having a Super Bowl in a cold weather city will be debated until a decision is made on whether the new Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey, home of the New York Giants and Jets, will hold the 2014 Super Bowl. The billion dollar stadium which resides just yards from the old Giants Stadium will open its doors in 2010.

A Super Bowl has never been held in a cold weather city outdoors. It is either held in a domed stadium or an outdoor warm weather field such as Miami. Putting economic issues aside, what are some football reasons to and not to have a Super Bowl in a cold weather city?

A dome or warm weather city are deemed ”ideal” conditions for football. It has been said that poor weather brings talent closer together. In an ideal climate and setting, talent can shine and the better team should be victors.

But this is football. A sport that plays in any condition. Even when we set the climate to ideal settings the more talented team doesn’t always win. The better team on Super Bowl Sunday prevails. The team that makes fewer mistakes and causes its opponent to make more mistakes usually wins. 

It can rain in Miami for the Super Bowl, which can cause poor playing conditions, so why let chances of snow nix the idea of having a Super Bowl in a northern city? It rained three years ago in Miami for the Colts Super Bowl win over the Bears.

It’s not like it’s certain the weather is going to be poor on Super Bowl Sunday  in a cold weather city. You can expect much lesser temperatures, but the chances of getting precipitation are the same in New York as it is in Miami. 

Since when is football supposed to be played in perfect conditions anyway? This is the one outdoor sport that will play in any weather during the regular season and playoffs. Why make the Super Bowl an exception? The game is meant to be played in any condition. The argument that bad weather brings talent closer together should not apply to the Super Bowl when teams have to play in all kinds of weather and conditions to get to the Super Bowl. If you’re the best team you’ll find a way to win in any condition. 

Give us a Super Bowl. Spread the wealth. Why should Miami host the Super Bowl twice in four years? Give it to New York (New Jersey), Boston (Foxborough), Washington, Seattle, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Buffalo (expect snow), Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay, or Chicago. If the NFL gives it to one cold weather city they better be prepared to give it to others. At least let a cold weather city host the Super Bowl once every four years or so.

Miami has hosted the Super Bowl 10 times. New Orleans has hosted it six times. None of the previously mentioned cold weather cities have ever held a Super Bowl.