While Indianapolis certainly doesn’t have the curb appeal of cities like Miami or New Orleans, I am optimistic that this year’s Super Bowl will prove better than the last. From the rare Texas snow storm, the unprepared stadium employees, and even the unsafe seating, there were plenty of issues with Super Bowl XLV. However, Indianapolis is certainly prepared to prove that they will not make the same mistakes.
It is certainly going to be interesting to see if Indianapolis can learn from Dallas’ mistakes in Super Bowl XLV. The state of Texas is very spread out, with cities like Arlington, Dallas, and Fort Worth all nearby, it was difficult to pinpoint a true Super Bowl atmosphere. With Indianapolis being the capitol of its state, its proximity to the airport, and defined city lines, fans will not have any question about whether or not they are in Super Bowl city.
The argument that that Super Bowl should be played in a warm weather city is flawed on the basis of football fundamentals. The only thing that should stop a game is lightning that can cause immediate danger to the players or spectators. There is no reason to change this policy for the Super Bowl. Gridiron is gridiron, whether it is shining under the Miami sunlight, protected from the elements in the Indianapolis dome, or slammed by snow in the New England tundra. Regardless of location, football is not about glamour, and the Super Bowl shouldn’t be either. If you are afraid of cold weather, pick another sport.
This moderate jump to a cold weather Super Bowl should prove very interesting for the NFL, and will certainly ease the path into Super Bowl XLVIII in East Rutherford, New Jersey. And if all goes well, this very well could be the spark plug that enables snow-bowls to be played in the future. After all, it is football.
Tags: Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLVI
