MetLife Stadium Wins Right To Host Super Bowl XLVIII

In an unprecedented move for the league, the NFL announced in 2010 that MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will be hosting Super Bowl XLVIII in February of 2014.  MetLife Stadium competed against two other popular destinations to host the Super Bowl in 2014, which included Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida and Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida.  The latter two have hosted a total of 16 Super Bowls, as the NFL had a policy in place for years that the Super Bowl must be played in either a domed arena or outdoors where the temperature was at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

This rule was obviously waived now that MetLife Stadium has won the right to host the Super Bowl in 2014.  With an average temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the area during the month of February, fans will certainly need to don their winter coats in order to watch the game. The current record for coldest Super Bowl was in 1972 when in was 39 degrees Fahrenheit, but it could be in danger when 2014 rolls around.   Don’t get too used to watching Super Bowls in cold weather though, as a onetime exemption was made for MetLife Stadium due to its historical significance.  Roger Goodell did state though when the choice was made that if the 2014 Super Bowl happened to be very successful in the cold weather he would consider future exemptions, so stay tuned on that front.

The 2014 Super Bowl should be very interesting when it is played in MetLife Stadium.  There is the possibility that both the New York Jets and the New York Giants could face off against one another since they are in different divisions.  It should also be very interesting to see how the elements will play in the outdoor stadium, as near-freezing temperatures will certainly play a role in how the game will be played.  Regardless, the 2014 Super Bowl should shape up to be a great one no matter who is competing against one another.

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New Meadowlands Stadium Now Officially Named MetLife Stadium

On August 23, 2011 the New $1.6 billion Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey officially changed its name to MetLife Stadium after a 25 year agreement was reached on naming rights.  MetLife Stadium is currently used by both the New York Jets and New York Giants during the NFL season, and hosts many other events throughout the year as well.  The stadium is also set to host Super Bowl XLVIII on February of 2014.  The deal had been on the ropes for some time due to economic conditions, but the two teams were able to come to an agreement with MetLife before the start of the 2011 NFL season.

Because of its unique distinction of being played upon by two NFL franchises, MetLife Stadium is one of the most attended stadiums in the country, with an estimated 2 million fans piling into it each and every year.  Not only that, but the two NFL teams that occupy it are two of the well-recognized franchises in the NFL with large national fan bases to accompany each one. With that much foot traffic coming into the stadium and popularity of the two teams, it should be of no surprise then that MetLife had to pay a considerable amount of money for the naming rights, which is estimated to be in the ballpark of $20 million per year.

Included in the agreement alongside the naming rights to the stadium, the large insurance company (if anyone is not familiar with MetLife, it is in the business of insurance, employee benefit programs, and annuities for tens of millions of individuals throughout the entire world) also gets an estimated 120,000 square feet or space in the west entrance to promote itself, signs on the exterior portion of the building, and future opportunities when it comes to media arrangements for the Jets and Giants.

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MetLife Stadium Premium Seating

MetLife Stadium is predominately a football stadium that is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  The stadium is jointly owned by both the New York Jets and the New York Giants, and is located right next to the old Giants Stadium.  It was constructed at a cost of $1.6 billion, which is by far the most expensive sporting venue to date.  MetLife Stadium also has the recognition of having the highest permanent seating capacity as well at 82,500.  In 2010 the stadium won the right to host the 2014 Super Bowl, beating out two other stadiums located in Florida.

MetLife Stadium is not only the home to two NFL teams, but also hosts concerts, college football games, international soccer, and many more important events throughout each year.  As far as premium seating experiences, the stadium offers two different types of premium seating for visitors, suites and clubs.

The suites are one of the crown jewels of MetLife Stadium and have everything one would expect out of a first class experience, including such perks as on-field patios, fire places, brick pizza ovens, and much, much more.  If you are ever interested in getting a suite to the stadium, expect to get VIP parking, a private entrance, flat panel televisions offered in each suite, a wet bar and refrigerator, and don’t forget about having some of the best views in the stadium as well for you and up to 29 other guests to enjoy.

The club seating offered at MetLife Stadium also provides a great experience for visitors.  Not only will you have a great view of the event going on, but also reserved parking and private entry into the stadium, climate controlled lounges, upscale cuisine, and comfortable luxurious furniture to sit back and relax on.  Interested in getting closer to the NFL action?  The coaches club offers exclusive access to both field level views and post game interviews with players and coaches.

MetLife Stadium And The Environment

The construction and current operation of MetLife Stadium has a unique tie to the environment that one does not normally expect out of a sporting venue.  In an unprecedented move, MetLife Stadium Company and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed an agreement to make the stadium as environmentally-friendly as possible.  There are two items that are especially important to note when it comes to the environmental initiatives set for by the stadium.

The first comes in regards to accessibility.  Since its construction MetLife Stadium continually provides updates to the EPA about what it is doing in concerns to the environment.  From the information provided by the stadium, the EPA is able to figure out the environmental impact of the stadium in its day to day operations, as well as providing the stadium with suggestions to improve its impact on the environment.  To date the stadium has remarkably reduced its carbon footprint, to the equivalent of removing over 50,000 cars from highways.

When it came to construction of MetLife Stadium, many activities were done to further bolster the stadium as being environmentally friendly.  For example, when it came to pavement in and around the stadium crushed granite stone was used, thus allowing storm water flows to be reduced dramatically, and this in turn helps to further protect environmentally sensitive areas near the stadium itself.  Other important notes regarding the construction of MetLife stadium include the following: 82% of the total waste used in the construction of the stadium was recycled or reused, 10% of the exterior contains recycled aluminum, all construction equipment used low sulfur diesel fuel, and over 50% of the interior of the stadium is made up of green certified products.  Overall, MetLife Stadium is one of the most environmentally-friendly stadiums in the United States and it has certainly set a precedent for future stadium venues to replicate.

MetLife Stadium’s Own Rail Line

A classic headache of going to massive venue like a sports stadium is finding a parking space in the same zip code.  For some with families or special movement accommodations this becomes an insurmountable obstacle to enjoying live sports.  Mass transit has long been a means to bypass this issue, but the existing bus and train services aren’t necessarily designed to handle the sudden surge of traffic and sometimes they don’t get you any closer to the gates than if you’d tried to park.

The MetLife Stadium recognized this problem and has implemented a solution.  On July 20, 2009, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine christened the stadium’s very own rail line.  The inaugural train ride was taken by the governor and several officials and guests, among them were members of the New York Jets and New York Giants.  There was even a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate this new wave in ease of stadium access.

The line connects to 11 of New Jersey’s 12 existing transit lines at the Frank R. Lautenberg station at Secaucus Junction.  Trains begin running express to the Stadium from Hoboken and Secaucus three and half hours before an event begins, departing every ten to twenty minutes.  They continue to depart hourly during events and resume a ten minute turnaround to get people home quickly and efficiently.  The intent is to provide thousands of stadium patrons safe, easy access to the year-round events hosted at the MetLife Stadium.  It reflects New Jersey’s interest in pursuing a green transportation system.  The new rail line will also be a tremendous advantage in 2014 when MetLife hosts Superbowl XLVIII.  The $1.6 billion stadium has a capacity over 82,000 with just over 23,000 parking spaces.  Even if everyone rides with a friend, that still leaves a lot of people without cars, meaning mass transit options are absolutely essential for any event, let alone the most ardently viewed and rabidly attended event of the year.

Super Bowl XLVIII, A Very Cool Experience

The MetLife Stadium is the newest, largest, most expensive stadium in the United States.  At over $1.6 billion construction cost, with a seating capacity over 82,000, and boasting state of the art media accommodations, the MetLife Stadium is an obvious choice for the most anticipated event in the NFL or any other American sport.  However, being in New Jersey, the February 5^th game day is likely to be a chilly one.

It has always been a requirement of a Super Bowl venue that it have an average outdoor temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in February or that it be indoor and climate controlled.  This rule has been waved in the case of the MetLife Stadium.  The already expensive stadium was not allowed a roof due to budget restraints, making for some cold conditions during the New Jersey winter.  With an average temperature between 44 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit, this year’s Super Bowl will be a crisp event.  But the NFL commissioner Roger Goodwell, along with all the decision makers in one of the most profitable entertainment industries in the world, decided that the long heritage of football in the area and the chance to celebrate such an achievement of design and construction could not be passed.

Even being exposed the elements, the stadium is a massive structure with plenty of sheltered areas to escape the chill if necessary.  There are indoor suites available to those who have the considerable coin to drop on such a luxury.  Everyone else can huddle together with the other tens of thousands of fans, dress warm, drink hot beverages which vendors will surely be plying eagerly, and invest in hand and foot warmers if it looks like its going to be exceptionally brutal.  In all it should make for a deeply authentic football experience for all of those from the north half of the country where football season means freezing temperatures and snow and players and fans too tough to let that stop them.

The MetLife Stadium Goes Green

The most expensive sports venue in the country is going out of its way to also be the most environmentally friendly.  The New Meadowlands Stadium Corporation (the MetLife Stadium was originally called the Meadowlands Stadium) signed a deal with the EPA to maintain certain green standards during the construction and operation of the $1.6 billion venue.

During its construction process the stadium has observed numerous environmentally friendly practices and provided four updates to the EPA to ensure their progress along those lines.  The stadium has managed a reduction in energy and water use and solid waste production across the board by incorporating intensive recycling programs, using low flow plumbing options, implementing food composting, and building their own mass transit option.  The numerical effect of their efforts is a carbon footprint reduction of 268,828 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the largest carbon footprint reduction of any project to date.  This approximates the gas emissions from over 52,000 vehicles in one year or the energy use of nearly 23,000 homes.

The stadium was carefully located so as not to occupy any undeveloped lands, “green fields”, or obstruct any environmentally delicate areas such as wetlands.  There have also been impressive measures taken to improve stormwater management.  Rather than conventional concrete, crushed granite material was used in the non-load bearing pavement on the site, allowing rain water to replenish groundwater and reducing the wasted stormwater thus cutting down the watering requirements for the stadium’s landscaping.  The measures save around 2 million gallons of water each year.  Despite being nearly twice the size of the old stadium, the MetLife Stadium uses 30% less energy.  The new stadium incorporates energy efficient windows and lighting options, advanced lighting in their parking lots that waste less energy on misdirected light and thus create less light pollution as well as being cheaper to operate, and automated lighting control systems that minimize energy spent when it’s not needed.

MetLife

MetLife Stadium is one of the top venues located in the New Jersey area. The overall MetLife Sports Complex is home to both the New York Jets and New York Giants. It is also going to host the Super Bowl in 2014. This great event is going to be held right in East Rutherford, New Jersey and should be a great showing. Fans have already started purchasing tickets and more will be on sale as time goes on. The stadium capacity for this awesome venue is over 80,000 people, so there is plenty of room for tons of fans. Plus, this venue can easily be extensible to accommodate other events such as concerts. The New York Metropolitan area surely gained an asset with the addition of MetLife Stadium. Of course, since the construction of the new stadium was one and a half billion dollars, it was an expensive undertaking to begin with.

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