Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Tuesday 6 February 2018
Frigid Super Bowl raises questions about northern venues

By AMY FORLITI Mokros said the winter
Associated Press climate allowed the host
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Af- committee to offer a dif-
ter years of planning and ferent sort of fun for guests,
many millions in spending, such as snowmobiling or
there was one thing or- skijoring (cross-country ski-
ganizers of Super Bowl 52 ing while being pulled by a
couldn't control — a Min- dog). And she said she felt
nesota winter. some pride when she saw
The Philadelphia Eagles celebrities donning winter
and New England Patriots hats and embracing the
played inside. But as fans cold weather.
were heading to U.S. Bank Paul Vaaler, a professor of
Stadium at noon Sunday, management and law at
the temperature in Min- the University of Minnesota
neapolis was minus-2 de- law school and the Carlson
grees, with a wind chill of School of Management,
negative 23 — by far the said while warmer tourist
coldest Super Bowl on re- destinations are more likely
cord — raising questions to get Super Bowls, there is
about whether the NFL's some strategy to spread-
marquee event would ever In this Feb. 4, 2018 file photo fans brave cold temperatures as they wait to get into U.S. Bank Sta- ing the game to different
return to Minnesota. dium before the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New franchises: The promise of a
England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis.
While warmer climates Associated Press Super Bowl can lead cities
tend to be more popular to build new stadiums and
host cities, a flashy new "like I was being punished. New Jersey's MetLife Sta- man Brian McCarthy said. keep teams from leaving
stadium and amenities of- Minnesota is where they dium got a Super Bowl in He said it's up to club own- certain markets.
ten play a bigger role than send you when you're bad. its fourth season, the only ers to take the initial step Because of that, he said,
the weather in determining But if you embrace it like outdoor Super Bowl at a of expressing an interest other northern cities are
who will host the big game. the people who live here, northern site to date (2014). in hosting. The sites of the likely to host the Super Bowl
"The owners will do as they instead of fighting it, it's not Lucas Oil Field in India- next four Super Bowls are before Minnesota gets an-
like. So that's one of those so bad." napolis hosted in 2012 and already chosen: Atlanta other chance.
decisions that's just not up The NFL has used the Super Ford Field in Detroit hosted in 2019, followed by South "That incentive to build a
to the fan base," said Mark Bowl as a reward for mu- in 2006, both at the end Florida, Tampa Bay and Los stadium and attract the
Cobb, who has been to nicipalities that pump pub- of their fourth seasons. The Angeles. Super Bowl is gone (for Min-
several Super Bowls in his lic money into new venues. only other Super Bowls held Atlanta has a stadium that nesota), but it's not gone
work for the NFL Players As- Minnesota was awarded in the north were in subur- opened in 2017. Hard Rock in a place like Cincinnati,
sociation. "Wherever has the game in 2014, two ban Detroit at the Pontiac Stadium in South Florida or a place like Denver" or
and Raymond James Sta- other northern NFL cities
dium in Tampa have been that have stadiums that are
renovated in the past three more than 20 years old. "For
years, and Los Angeles will other northern climates,
have a new stadium by the there will be pressure."
time it hosts the game. Some fans said the weath-
McCarthy said the weath- er was tolerable and there
er in Minneapolis wasn't a were plenty of experienc-
negative. Instead, he said es in Minneapolis to keep
it provided new experienc- them entertained. Others
es for fans, some of whom said that even though Min-
took advantage of the Min- nesotans were hospitable,
neapolis skyway system, a they'd prefer a warmer lo-
collection of enclosed — cation.
and heated — pedestrian "The cold was just brutal,"
bridges. said Philadelphia Eagles
"We knew weather was go- fan Terry Laufer of Carroll-
ing to be a factor and we ton, Virginia. His wife, Rhon-
embraced it," he said. da, said: "I would never be
Andrea Mokros, a spokes- able to bring children here.
woman for the Minnesota It would be too risky." The
In this Feb. 4, 2018 file photo fans brave cold temperatures as they make their way to U.S. Bank Super Bowl Host Commit- pair said they'd return with
Stadium for the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New tee, said the event was a their grandkids in Septem-
England Patriots in Minneapolis. "huge success." Visitor num- ber, when it's warmer.
Associated Press bers were still being calcu- "You could have had the
lated, but Mokros said out- Arctic Circle and it would
the newest, prettiest sta- years after state lawmak- Silverdome in 1982 and in door concerts and other have been a great experi-
dium, that's who gets the ers approved a financing Minneapolis at the Metro- events were well attended, ence," said Jody Haggerty
game." package that had taxpay- dome in 1992. even on the coldest nights of Milford, Pennsylvania.
Cobb, of Washington, said ers paying nearly half the While warmer climates during 10 days of festivities. "Minneapolis made it work.
everyone in Minnesota was cost of the $1.1 billion sta- have held more Super "The cold didn't slow any- ... It's not about the loca-
nice, and he'd return to Min- dium. Bowls, there is no rotation one down and in fact tion. It's about the experi-
neapolis for a Super Bowl. Other northern cities have of pre-selected cities that made it a more memora- ence, the atmosphere and
But he said the weather felt reaped similar benefits. get picked, NFL spokes- ble experience," she said. the game."q