Sunday’s chilling forecast might force some fans to shy away from Super Bowl XLVIII, as this game might break the record for the coldest Super Bowl ever with temperatures in the thirties and a chance of snow.
However, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson isn’t worried. “I think [fans] are going to love it. It’s no different than any other Super Bowl,” Johnson said in an interview with espnnewyork.com.
The predicted extreme conditions could lead to a low scoring game with little highlight plays. Coaches probably won’t have to alter their plays too much, but they’ll certainly need to keep the cold in mind. “The game plan [for extreme weather] is to stick with the basics and with what’s going to work that day regardless of condition,” Massapequa Football coach Tim Radomski said. “The players in the NFL are used to [this kind of weather].”
The coldest game the Massapequa Chiefs have played in recent memory was nearly four years ago on Halloween against the Hempstead Tigers. In fact, the weather was worse than the forecast of the Super Bowl XLVIII.
“It rained and snowed and was the worst condition I coached in in twenty-four years,” Mr. Radomski said. “The temperature was around twenty degrees, with a wind chill probably down to zero.”
Fans across America are unsure about attending the game because of the extreme weather. Long time Jets fan and season ticket holder Keino Korpela decided against attending this upcoming Super Bowl.
“I’ve been to a handful of Jet games in that stadium where the temperatures were below forty degrees. It is brutal and very difficult to sit there for three hours,” Korpela said. “My advice would be to stay home and enjoy the game in a warm house.”
Students at Massapequa High School have shared concerns about Super Bowl XLVIII’s “super” weather as well.
“I don’t like the idea of a cold Super Bowl. I think there will be a lot of injuries and it will be low scoring,” senior Kevin Mazol said. “Huge change isn’t good for an event as big and as successful as the Super Bowl.”
Although some students were hesitant about having the Super Bowl in these conditions, others were very excited.
“I love it. I hope it breaks the record for the coldest Super Bowl so it really will be like watching history,” senior Matt Romeo said. “I want it to snow because that’s my favorite condition to watch for a football game.”
Super Bowl XLVIII is set to make history. It’s an experiment that both fans and NFL officials are watching closely. There is even talk of hosting future events at the location and a possible return of the Super Bowl to Metlife Stadium.
Sunday’s game has to go smoothly before anyone can even begin to think about the future. As NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in an interview with the NY Daily News: “Let’s get through the Super Bowl first.”