New York/New Jersey's Meadowlands to host 2014 Super Bowl

Irving - NFL owners voted on Tuesday to award the 48th Super Bowl to the New York/New Jersey area, the first time the league has opted for a dome-less stadium in a cold-weather location.

The 2014 Super Bowl will be hosted in the new Meadowlands Stadium, new home to the New York Giants and New York Jets, and will be played on February 2, 9, or 16, depending on the season and schedule format, according to the NFL. "We believe the owners have the faith in us that 3½ years from now we'll put on a remarkable event," Giants co-owner Jonathan Tisch said. "The greatest game in the world will be played on the greatest stage in the world." After four rounds of voting, the Meadowlands eventually won out over Miami and Tampa. New York’s winning bid slogan is “Make Some History” and could do just that with a record-low temperature at kick-off. The current record of 39 degrees dates back to 1972 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, considered by many to be a warm February day in New Jersey. The Super Bowl has never experienced snow in its 44-year history, so history is on the side of Meadowlands Stadium in that regard as well. According to bid documents on the Meadowlands weather, average temperature range during February is 24 to 40 degrees, along with several inches of rain. The game kicks off after sunset in the eastern time zone, so temperatures will likely be dropping during the course of the contest. Meadowlands planners are prepared with a plan that includes giveaway hand and seat warmers and a work crew ready to shovel snow if need be. "People talk about the weather, but, you know, this is football, not beach volleyball," NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg said on the NFL Network.