by Amy Lignor
Okay, no matter who it is you’re voting for – whether it be the Manning juggernaut that has broken records all season long and proved to be a highly respectful team; or you go the way of the ‘underdog’ and stand behind the ‘birds’ who, although could have been recognized and congratulated for their hard work all season, unfortunately had their skill and talent buried by a mouth far too big and too loud to overcome – the Super Bowl will soon come to pass, and the victor will be crowned.
The polar vortex has become a major part of the game analysis, although it now looks like Super Bowl XLVIII will actually be played in MetLife Stadium petty comfortably (which kind of takes the fun out of it for the fan who hoped there would be record snowfall during the game to at least add some fun).
One of the strangest parts about this particular Super Bowl, however, is the fact that tickets aren’t exactly selling like hotcakes, nor are the ones that are selling going for too high a price. Perhaps this is the polar vortex and no one in the world wants to travel into what could be sub-zero temperatures to watch a game that people already are yawning about.
No, that is not a smash against any team. The point is very clear here. Yes, underdogs have won. They have beaten the ‘big guys’ – the ‘stars’ in many games throughout history; however, placing the best offense in the league that has scored the most points per game this season, headed by a QB that has broken passing records left and right – before a defense that is definitely good, but with an offense that has scored the lowest number of points all season long – makes for not a very interesting game.
Watching Manning break yet another record; or perhaps having a Niners fan hide in Giants stadium and then throw his Gatorade Slushie at Sherman’s face – are probably the only two things that would be super cool to witness. (Of course, if sub-zero temps were to happen, that Slushie would end up turning to dust before it actually landed on the man who truly deserves it).
New statistics are arriving on the market every single day. It seems that on Friday, the cheapest rate out there for a ticket to this Super Bowl was $1,779 listed on NFL Ticket Exchange (the league’s official resale site.) Although that may seem like a lot to most, it is actually almost $500 dollars cheaper than last years and a little over $800 dollars cheaper than the year before. Recession? Polar Vortex? Already bored because the entire Seahawk team AND fan base is no match for Manning? Whatever the case, no one is scrambling to make that awesome deal.
There are a number of ‘experts’ – everyone’s favorite word – that state it is the Wall Street fear of losing money that’s making the NFL tickets seem unworthy to fans. That’s one scenario. The news that goes back and forth between meteorologists who have generally decided on the fact that 20-35 is the temp with possible snow showers in East Rutherford, N.J. on Feb. 2, is most likely NOT a huge reason why the stadium isn’t already sold out. After all, you ever watch a Green Bay game? The frozen tundra is most definitely frozen most of the time, and their stands are always full. Does that mean they have more loyal fans? Or is it just that Seattle is too far to travel, and Denver fans would rather see the Manning magic projected on their big screen TV?
Either way, the Super Bowl is still Super. It is the monumental event of the sports world, with more people tuning in to that game across the globe than will tune in to the Winter Olympics.
Football is still the beloved pastime of America; the gridiron will be watched and the debates will begin. But old-fashioned boredom just might be the true reason why the stands may not be filled. After all, the experts have already teamed up to say that the Seahawks will be far quieter at the end of this game than they were when the NFC Championship came to a close.
So for at least a little excitement, I say, “Let it snow!”
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