New York area to host 2014 Super Bowl

DALLAS - It was admittedly a daunting task for the Jets and Giants owners to persuade their colleagues to approve the first-ever outdoor Super Bowl in a northern city. But a bid that seemed lost a few years ago turned into an unlikely victory for the NFL's two New York teams.

It took four ballots and some adrenaline-pumping tension on the final vote, but in the end, owners awarded the 2014 Super Bowl to the New Meadowlands Stadium, a $1.6-billion facility built by both teams and set to open this season.

"We want to thank the NFL owners for having confidence in our ability to host this game, and for having the guts to want to make some history," Giants president and co-owner John Mara said Tuesday after the vote.

The Giants beat out competing bids from South Florida, which has hosted a record 10 Super Bowls, and Tampa, which has hosted four. The balloting was secret, so the vote totals were not revealed. But it took the maximum number of ballots to achieve the victory, meaning that the New York/New Jersey bid never received 24 of the league's 32 votes. Once the balloting came down to a head-to-head competition with Tampa after South Florida was eliminated on the second ballot, the New York/New Jersey bid required a minimum of 17 votes.

"I was born in New Brunswick, N.J., and to be a Jersey boy and bring something this big to New Jersey and the New York region is a tremendous thing for all the people that live in our area," said Jets owner Woody Johnson. "We're lucky to have won this one."

The New York/New Jersey committee never shied away from admitting that adverse weather could be a factor on game day, and managed to convince owners that easy access to the stadium with mass transit and the readiness of an army of snow-removal specialists would allay any concerns.

The host committee will distribute hand and feet warmers, blankets, self-warming seat cushions, and provide heaters throughout open concourses. The committee will also offer heating "fire pits" in parking lots for tailgaters.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, a proponent of the New York/New Jersey Super Bowl, said the owners' willingness to depart from its rules requiring a northern Super Bowl to be played indoors was an indication of the league's aggressiveness. "I feel strongly that we can't be complacent, and that we need to grow the game," Goodell said. "Innovation is a big part of our initiative. . . . We're going to try to find new ways to reach our fans and provide the highest quality entertainment."

The new stadium, which accommodates 82,500 fans, was a major lure in getting the game. And the cultural diversity and entertainment hub that helps define New York was an equally strong component.

"I think they made a great presentation and a number of people were sold on the fact that it's a first-class stadium and a first-class city," said Jonathan Kraft, son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who openly campaigned for a New York Super Bowl.

The game could eventually pave the way for more outdoor Super Bowls in northern cities. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, who voted in favor of the New York/New Jersey Super Bowl, said he'd like to bring the title game to his stadium.

Buccaneers owner Joel Glazer commended the New York/New Jersey bid, even though he was disappointed at losing out. "We would love to have had it, but if you're going to lose to someone, you'd rather lose out to New York," he said. "It's . . . a great city, and it will be an historic game for the NFL."