With New York (New Jersey actually at New Meadowlands Stadium) winning a vote by NFL owners to host the Super Bowl in 2014 on Tuesday, Sean Leahy of USA Today asks what other stadiums with winter conditions now have a chance to host future Super Bowls. Seattle, of course, is way down his list of suitors
The NFL waived its policy of not awarding to Super Bowls to cities where the average temperature is less than 40 degrees in order to bring New York on board, so could other locales like Washington D.C., Baltimore and Chicago be looking at hosting a Super Bowl in the future?
Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly points out that the reason New York is hosting the Super Bowl is pretty simple – money.
If the league wants to hold the Super Bowl in cold-climate city every once in a blue moon, then why not Seattle? The weather is usually not as harsh as the Midwest and Northeast in January and February, and Seattle is an attractive destination with enough hotel space to serve as a good host city.
And the city also has a significant bargaining chip in Paul Allen, owner of the Seahawks and one of the richest men in the world. Allen could have some sway if Seattle were to pursue hosting a Super Bowl.
ESPN’s John Clayton raises the possibility that with New York getting a Super Bowl the Seahawks might bid on the game in the future.
Greg Johns of Seattlpi.com takes a look at Seattle’s receiver situation.
Mike Sando of ESPN takes a look at Julius Jones’ future in Seattle.
Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelly says in this profile of Lean Washington that the Seahawks’ trade for the veteran running back could be the steal of this year’s draft.
LOL.
Hell would have to freeze over before the NFL put the Super Bowl in Seattle.
Pigs would be airborne as well.
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Bobby A, I have to agree with that statement. The East Coast bias of the NFL… hell, ALL Maor sports, is rampant and unrepented.
GO HAWKS!
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Bugger!!! That’s supposed to be MAJOR! (New keyboard…)
GO HAWKS!
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Seattle’s not getting the Super Bowl. A west coast city notorious for rain, located further away from the next NFL team than any other in the league, that happens to have never won a Super Bowl themselves is not a package that is going to help secure any bids. The stadium and the regions’ accommodations are not really the issue (although New York is equipped to host corporate events on a level that few other cities in the world can compete with), as I see it. New York / New Jersey getting a bid opens the door to conversation, but I wouldn’t wait by the mail box for an invitation just yet.
In addition, not many people are clamoring to vacation in Seattle in February.
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I agree with the sentiments that Qwest will never host a Super Bowl. The simple fact of the matter is in NY there is plenty of things to do for the two week ultimate fan experience. In Seattle, not so much. Seattle is not even on NY’s radar screen for nightlife and things to do. How many times can the fans go to the EMP? Plus, they would have to start the game a little earlier in the day, like three o’clock, and the NFL traditionally likes their Super Bowls in prime time. Lastly, it’s Seattle, which is the NFL’s red headed stepchild.
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I don’t think Qwest meets the seating minimum either.
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Actually, it can meet up to 72,000 people. Qwest is the least of the issues. Here are the attendance figures for the last 10 Super Bowls:
XXXV – Tampa – 71,921
XXXVI – New Orleans – 72,922
XXXVII – San Diego – 67,603
XXXVIII – Houston, 71,525
XXXIX – Jacksonville – 78,125
XL – Detroit – 68,206
XLI – Miami – 74,512
XLII – Glendale (AZ) – 71,101
XLIII – Tampa – 70,774
XLIV- Miami 74,059
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So much for that.
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There is no chance of Seattle ever hosting a Superbowl. If the NFL could get away with it they’d move the franchise to L.A. or Oklahoma City.
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Well, it’s certainly not that way at all, this isn’t a NBA / Sonics situation. The NFL would never allow the Seahawks to leave. Not when the next closest teams are the 49ers / Raiders and the Broncos. But the Super Bowl? Not bloody likely.
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Hope Eric doesn’t mind, but here are some highlights from today’s OTA.
http://blog.seahawks.com/2010/05/26/plays-of-the-day-5/
I like Butler being moved to Z. He’s a smaller guy, so getting off the line some (as opposed to last year where they had him at split-end) should help him get free at the snap. And like Josh Wilson said, if he gets loose on you, you’re in trouble, he’ll be by you in a flash.
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If Butler can turn into that legit deep threat that we all want him to be… that would be so huge for our offense.
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SB L: If there’s any kinda problem with available hotel space, Seattle could use cruise ships like Tampa did. Bet they had some good parties en route. Wonder if cruise ships could tie-up just behind Qwest? Walk from the game to onboard. The temperature of Seattle in Feb always seems to be 45 deg. After 12 yrs of Feb in Alaska that’s balmy.
If Hawks use 2 TEs, why can’t they both be up on the LOS and let Butler start off the LOS like a flanker but on Matt’s left side? Butler is SEA’s fastest WR, and if Matt reads from right to left he’d still have a little more time to get deeper downfield before the throw.
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If Glendale AZ was host of a SB then I cannot see why Seattle could not. An excellent venue should the weather be nice. Not sure I would place any bets on that. I got wet in Dec at the Ravens game a couple year back. Who got rid of the roof anyhow. I wasn’t to pleased. Ruined my new Hawk cap. But otherwise, the green of Seattle blows away the desert of Zona. And I didn’t see much there to do.
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They did the cruise ship thing at Jacksonville too.
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Here’s something I didn’t need a statical breakdown to confirm what I already knew. Let’s just hope that between Thomas, Chancellor and Milloy, Babs’ time on the field is dramatically cut.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/18666/tackling-down-pat-willis-kerney-among-best
(I’d post the Insider link but I refuse to give ESPN any (additional) money.)
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For some reason, partying on a docked cruise ship in Seattle in the shadow of the Alaska Viaduct in February doesn’t hold the same appeal as it might in Tampa or Jacksonville.
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The last few years Frank Gore made his entire reputation on Jordan Babineaux.
Sando used to incorrectly point out 2006 was because of the loss of Tubbs – it wasn’t – it was due to the replacement of Boulware by Babineaux. Last year’s Gore fest wasn’t due to Tatupu and Mebane missing time, it was due to Babineaux starting at Safety.
It’s good to see Babineaux got a little revenge on Gore in the game in Seattle – but he has a long way to go!
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Babs is been in the league long enough that what he is now is what he will always be. There’s nothing terribly wrong with that but as a starter, he is a liability.
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Babs will always be known for that one goal line tackle on Tony Romo in the playoffs. To me he will be known as the Tuesday afternoon DJ on KUBE more then a safety. He will be an afterthought in Seahawks lore.
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I’ll always think of that and his INT in the regular season in ’05 against Dallas. That was a huge game that season.
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Looking at broken tackles made by team offenses, and given up by team defenses, it’s interesting to see that STL’s D gives up the least (by %), and that CAR’s offense creates the most.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/fo-espn-feature-columns/2010/espn-2009-broken-tackles
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