At this very moment one year ago, I was at Dick’s Sporting
Goods buying as much cold weather gear as possible. I probably spent about $100
on Under Amour alone. I was stocking up on hand warmers and clothing for a very
specific reason… I was going to Super Bowl XLVIII. It was first cold weather
game of its kind that was being held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New
Jersey. And no New York was not a co-host of the event, it was being held in
the beautiful, and somewhat grimy, meadowlands of the Garden State.
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| My dad and I prior to leaving for the game. |
The weeks leading up to the game my dad and I were pumped to
have the Vince Lombardi trophy to be in our area. A few days leading up to the
biggest Sunday in football I heard my parents whispering on the phone. I didn’t
think anything of it.
Until my dad came home from work and explained that with the recent dip in ticket prices, he may or may not “go for it.” With the persuasion of his coworkers, he made the impulsive move to purchase two tickets to the historic game where the Seahawks would take home their first championship. While the tickets still cost a pretty penny, it was money well spent.
This Super Bowl was dubbed the “Mass Transit Super Bowl”
because there was no tailgating allowed and only select vehicles were
authorized to have access to the parking lots. All ticketholders were told to
take advantage of NJ Transits busses and trains. My dad and I were offered a free
tailgate party through StubHub. Based out of a warehouse in Secaucus, StubHub
laid out the red carpet for their customers with free food and drinks, games,
prizes, and free transportation to the game.
Upon arrival at MetLife, fans could be heard chanting
“Sea-Hawks” and “Let’s go Broncos” cheers. With over 3,000 security guards, 700
police officers present, and a no fly zone over the perimeter of the stadium,
the fans’ anxieties were put at ease. TSA officers and volunteers helped all
82, 529 fans through the several security checkpoints. Security checkpoints
were in covered, heated pavilions in case of severe cold or snowy weather. The
NFL does place a heavy emphasis on safety; however, it’s in the best interest
of their fans. Once past security, fans were allowed to freely walk around the
stadium where they could interact with the media, participate in games, and
listen to free concerts.
Entry into the stadium was as typical as attending a Giants
or Jets game, but with fans decked out in navy and orange Broncos jerseys or
navy and neon green Seahawks jerseys. Broncos fans were much better represented
than the Seahawks, however that did not foreshadow the blowout win by Seattle.
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| Myself standing outside MetLife Stadium. |
While our seats were in the nosebleeds, that did not effect
our overall experience. Placed on each fan’s seat was a special package, which
included a seat cushion, hand warmers, lip balm, tissues, gloves, a hand muff,
a radio, and an interactive hat that would allow fans to partake in the
halftime show. While the NFL did help fans prepare for the cold weather, many
of the hand warmers went unused, as it was balmy 49 degrees at kickoff.
Prior to kickoff, fans and television viewers enjoyed
performances by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Marching Band and the Syracuse
University Marching Bands, each representing the two hosts of the event: New
Jersey and New York. Queen Latifah and the New Jersey Youth Chorus sang
“America the Beautiful”, prior to Renee Fleming preforming The National Anthem.
Three United States Army Black Hawks, three Apache attack helicopters, and
three Chinook heavy-lifters did a V-shaped military flyover, giving fans in the
upper decks quite a show.
By the end of the first half, the Seahawks were winning
22-0. While Broncos fans’ anxieties grew, Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili
Peppers performed. Fans in attendance participated in the “largest video screen
in history watched by hundreds of millions of people”. The knit ski hats
sported a Pepsi logo and three lights, which were all simultaneously synced
during the halftime performance. The hats created a sea of white and blue
flashing lights at times during the show, even creating a visual countdown to
the performances.
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| A view of the half time show. |
The second half flew by as the Seahawks scored less than a
minute into the third quarter, clearly dominating the game. Denver’s Demaryius
Thomas finally scored a touchdown from Peyton Manning. The Broncos went for the
two-point conversion to score their only 8 points in the game. The Seahawks
scored their final touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter.
Navy and neon green confetti flew unto the turf at MetLife
as the Seahawks won their first Vince Lombardi trophy. Malcolm Smith was named
the MVP, making him the third linebacker in NFL history to earn most valuable
player honors.
Despite an enjoyable and pleasant experience presented by
the NFL, the New York/New Jersey Host Committee dropped the ball when it came
to fans leaving the stadium. This was definitely not a “mass transit Super
Bowl.” While fans were advised to take mass transit to and from the game, more
than 28,000 fans strained capacity and set a record for single-day traffic
through Secaucus Junction. Fans, such as myself, were left standing outside of
the stadium for over two hours to even get a glimpse at an NJ Transit train. As
tensions rose, fans became irritable and began pushing and shoving their way
through the never-ending lines. Several fans who attended previous Super Bowls
noted that this was the worst experience they’ve had leaving a stadium.
Typically, I can be heard bashing the National Football
League for being greedy, selfish, and corrupt. However, after attending Super
Bowl XLVII, I was surprised to experience such an elaborate show presented by
the NFL. The NFL rolled out the red carpet for their fans who dished out
thousands of dollars to watch the first cold weather game. It was a once in a
lifetime experience that I recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to
attend.
While the price tag didn’t proved worthy of a good game, it
did offer special memories that I, as a dedicated football fan, will cherish
forever. My dad and I figured the only time we’d attend a Super Bowl was if the
Bills made it, but since that seems unlikely, I am glad we were able to
experience this. The game was a memory that I will share with my dad, and
hopefully, my own children in the future.
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| Confetti flies as the Seahawks are present the Vince Lombardi Trophy. |
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