Well, that didn’t take long. After claiming the decision to award the 2014 Super Bowl to New York/New Jersey was a one-time deal, NFL Commish Roger Goodell is now saying that if everything goes according to plan in four years, more cold-weather venues will be considered.
No, really? I didn’t buy the league’s statements last week one teeny tiny bit. When you have mega markets like Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia just waiting to host a Super Bowl, there is no way this will be a one and done scenario. Unless 2014 is an absolute disaster, which is still a possibility if say a massive blizzard were to bury New York City in early February.
Weather concerns aside, the NFL is all about increasing profits just like any other corporation. Miami, New Orleans and Tampa are fine cities, but none of them can compete with New York, Chicago and Philadelphia, which rank #1, #3 and #6 in market size. The one advantage warm-weather cities have is climate. However, if the NYC Super Bowl is a success, the advantages shrink to zero.
I still contend a championship where elements are a factor could shift the competitive balance in favor of cold-weather teams. That being said, having professional sports’ biggest single event in this country’s biggest and best cities can’t be all bad. Just don’t forget to pack wool hats and thermal socks for gameday.
Source: NFL.com
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