Ditka & Shula Criticize Cold Weather Super Bowl
NEW YORK (CBSMiami) – Why?
That's the simple question from many about the NFL holding the Super Bowl outside in the cold. With ticket prices running at least $1,600 for nose bleed seats and the game expected to suffer due to the playing conditions, legends like Mike Ditka and Don Shula are questioning the decision to hold the game outside.
Shula told ESPNNewYork.com that when it comes to a game of this magnitude, Miami, New Orleans, San Diego should all be at the top of the list both for players and the fans.
"You've got to give the fans an opportunity to come in ahead of time, enjoy what the town has to offer, enjoy the game and then stay for a couple of days afterwards and enjoy everything," Shula said. "So if it's a brutal weather condition in New York, you're not going to do that."
Going further, Shula said the game itself may not be at the level of recent games.
"Certainly it will take away from their ability to play the game to the best of their talent," Shula said. "and you don't want weather to influence a game that much."
While Shula was diplomatic in his criticism, Ditka opened up with both barrels on the decision to hold the Super Bowl outside in New York.
"They (NFL) made a big mistake," Ditka told the Detroit Free Press. "The game shouldn't be there. I mean it's stupid…First of all, it's not fair to the players. It's not going to be fair to the fans. It's not going to be that enjoyable…It'd be nice to be playing in Miami or San Diego or New Orleans or somewhere the weather is conducive to guys being able to show their talents."
The desire from vets like Ditka and Shula for the game to be played in a better climate is shared by many fans and players. The cold weather Super Bowl is expected to greatly impact Denver's passing game behind Peyton Manning, who has struggled in cold weather throughout his Hall of Fame career.
However, the NFL made it clear first with San Diego and now with Miami that if communities don't give the league at least a partially-publicly funded stadium, no Super Bowl will be awarded to that community in the future.
Miami tried to win a Super Bowl last year, but after the legislature killed renovations to Sun Life Stadium, lost out on both bids. The NFL has said Miami won't get another Super Bowl without major renovations to Sun Life Stadium or a new stadium.
In case you were wondering, the forecast for Sunday afternoon in Miami Gardens (home of Sun Life Stadium) is mostly sunny in the day with a temperature of 84 dropping to 69 by Sunday night. The forecast in New York for Sunday…mostly cloudy with a high of 39 and a low of 24, game time temperature is expected to be around 32 degrees.
A beautiful sunset with temperatures around 75 degrees at game time or clouds and 32 degrees, which would you choose?