HUDSON COUNTYTouchdown, Meadowlands!
After much speculation, it’s official: Super Bowl XLVIII will take place at the new Meadowlands arena in East Rutherford, N.J., in 2014.
The stadium had been favored to get the nod from NFL team owners and beat out two other contenders, Tampa Bay, Florida, and Miami Gardens, Florida.
The New York Giants and the New York Jets, rivals that both play their home games at Meadowlands arena, teamed up and lobbied for their field to be selected, a joint effort that paid off. Cities began their bids to host the biggest game in American sports 18 months ago.
Meadowlands arena does not include a dome. Thus, today’s decision is considered a victory for enthusiasts of traditional football who believe the game is meant to be played outdoors in cold weather. Supporters of the Florida bids argued that a New York/New Jersey Super Bowl would keep some fans away and could affect players on the field.
Super Bowl XLVIII, to be held in February 2014, will now be played outdoors in temperatures that could be as low as 40 degrees. (Florida, which has already hosted 14 Super Bowl games, boasts 70 degree temperatures in February.)
In his presentation to the NFL owners Mark Lamping, CEO of the Meadowlands Stadium Corporation, said, “New York has hosted every major event – with exception of the Super Bowl.”
Today the region finally won the last trophy missing from its shelf. That trophy being, of course, the Vince Lombardi. – E. Assata Wright