Now that New York-New Jersey will be hosting the 2014 Super Bowl, expect there to be an interstate fight: NJ Governor Chris Christie threw down the gauntlet yesterday, "I look where that stadium is, and that's New Jersey. When everyone gets on the train, or in their car or on the buses, they're going to be coming to that game in New Jersey."
The Wall Street Journal noticed that Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson's joint press release "used the term 'New Jersey' only once in their 357-word statement," and Bloomberg said at the Times Square event where folks were gathered to watch the NFL vote (really), "Our restaurants, stores and hotels will be ready. Our pubs, cafes and attractions will be ready." Bloomberg also unofficially renamed 48th Street "Super Bowl XLVIII Way," predicted the Giants and Jets will be facing off, and that it'll be 40 degrees that February day in 2014.
The idea that New York-New Jersey could host a Super Bowl came from Jets owner Woody Johnson, and the NY Times reports, "The vote also represented an embrace of the New York region’s unique entertainment, promotional and financial opportunities. The proposal called for everything from a Super Bowl float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade to a party at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. But of more interest to a league bent on building revenue and an international audience is that the weeklong extravaganza would play out in the global news media and business capital, and in an area where 36 percent of the 20 million residents were born outside the United States."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged, "It’s the No. 1 market in our country and in many cases around the world. It will be a great experience for our fans and a great experience for the N.F.L." No kidding: The Daily News found out that the Penthouse Executive Club will be flying "entertainers" in from "all over the world" for the game, with general manager Kelly Skillen explaining, "The Super Bowl is an event where men congregate and they'll want to come here, and either drown their sorrow in alcohol and beautiful women or celebrate with alcohol and beautiful women."
