Superbowl XLI!!

[-Jrabbit]

True, the game was far from being an artistic success. But looking at the ratings, I would say the league is fine with that.

[rah]

So maybe they don't need to schedule the game in a warm weather place/dome every year.

[-Jrabbit]

No, they really need an atractive city for all the corporate sponsors.

I remain convinced that the smart thing to do would be assigning the Super Bowl permanently to Los Angeles -- and never putting a franchise there.

[MOBIUS]

How about on neutral ground like the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff? It's not a bad little venue...

[rah]

We will agree to dissagree. Watching the elements effect the game was what I liked best out of this years super bowl. To me it makes no sense that it can effect the game the whole year but they try to make it perfect for the super bowl.
And on the money side, It should be more about the game and not sponsors. I understand the need for sponsors but I fully believe that if the NFL can hold a super bowl in DETROIT, there aren't that many less "ATTRACTIVE" cities out there.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well, it was only held in Detroit once because it was part of the deal for a new stadium. In that case, a year of less corporate support is balanced out by the far greater money they'll recieve from Ford Field in Detroit for as long as it remains home to the Lions.

[duke o' york]

Originally posted by MOBIUS


Already one step ahead of you!

http://www.nfllondon2007.com/

Reservation orders for 9 tix and counting! Pity it's the Giants vs Dolphins, but I'll take whatever regular season NFL game I can get!

If you're keen, I'm sure we can swing another ticket...

That would be pretty cool, thanks.
Let me know if you want cash up front.

Now I'll need to work out how many days to take off work to recover, and of course which team to support.

[rah]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Well, it was only held in Detroit once because it was part of the deal for a new stadium. In that case, a year of less corporate support is balanced out by the far greater money they'll recieve from Ford Field in Detroit for as long as it remains home to the Lions.

Again, that just reinforced my point. It should be more about the game, not just a sideshow for making as much money as possible. It's not like the NFL isn't making money hand over fist already.

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by duke o' york
That would be pretty cool, thanks.
Let me know if you want cash up front.

Now I'll need to work out how many days to take off work to recover, and of course which team to support.

Well, one of my friends is a Giants fan - so that means I'll be supporting Miami!

[Lord Avalon]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Well, it was only held in Detroit once because it was part of the deal for a new stadium. In that case, a year of less corporate support is balanced out by the far greater money they'll recieve from Ford Field in Detroit for as long as it remains home to the Lions.

Once? Are you forgetting Super Bowl XVI (SF vs Cincy)? OK, technically, it was Pontiac, MI, but the Silverdome was the Lions home field at the time. And it was the Metro Detroit area.

I forget why it was held there, though. It wasn't new anymore. At the time I wondered why it wasn't in one of the usual places.

[Fistandantilus]

From the Boston Herald

The Celtics are 12-35, tied with Memphis for the fewest wins and looking about as promising as Rex Grossman on third-and-long.

Do you Bears fans think I can read that as "it's playoff year in Boston"?

[rah]

That is a low blow

How quickly they forget some of the big passes he made against the saints a few weeks earlier to get them there.

[Addled Platypus]

No superbowl has yet to beat the number one viewed TV show


M * A *S*H--of all things

it has to be Klinger

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by rah
That is a low blow

How quickly they forget some of the big passes he made against the saints a few weeks earlier to get them there.

What exactly was impressive about that? Completing 42% of his passes for 5.5 yards per attempt? Watching his running backs compile nearly 200 yards?

He threw for one first down the entire first half.

I know you guys are used to watching defense dominate games, but really. You might not believe me, but outside of Soldier Field, there lies a land where quarterbacks are expected to regularly complete more than half their passes. And not throwing interceptions doesn't necessarily imply having a great game. There are even teams that rely on their quarterbacks to get first downs.

Crazy, I know. But it's true.

[-Jrabbit]

Rah, the whole damned event is a celebration of the NFL as a money-making machine, both for itself and its sponsors. It's all corporate parties and glitter. Expecting the event to approximate an in-season game is delusional. Can't happen.

And while I agree it made the game more interesting, it also made for bad TV, with fogged and watery lenses and lots of empty seats. This game is supposed to be a showcase.

Holding the Super Bowl in cold weather cities has been rare, and only into domed venues (Detroit, Minneapolis).the only exception has been Palo Alto (Stanford), where it doesn't snow. And well they should do that, as the number of hard-core fans in attendance is relatively small.

Do you really think the NFL likes the image it presents when tons of empty seats are clearly visible at their championship game? Check your Tivo -- here were only 4 crowd shots the whole game. Everyone in attendance was miserable, and a LOT of people left. BIG clumps of bright orange seats visible everywhere.

Indianapolis, BTW, is planning on bidding for the SB once their new, bigger stadium is built. KC has withdrawn their cold-weather 2014 bid because one of the two contingent tax measures was defeated at the polls.