NFL question


A number of things. Tradition. Machismo. But probably most of all, and this is particularly true of the biggest stadiums in the north of the US, for engineering and costs reasons.

Such can be the weight of snow, it was often too expensive – and still is – to construct roofs that wouldn't collapse. You can also make these big roofless bowls bigger too, to fit more in, and, as a result, get more revenue.

Generally, the biggest football stadiums are actually in the college game rather than NFL and they are almost entirely huge, roofless bowls. If you can get 100-120k plus fans inside I guess you will, won't you?

Who cares that fans get snowed on, especially as NFL games are routinely played in very heavy snow?

There's also a chance to use the weather and stadium to your advantage for teams like Green Bay when the likes of the LA Chargers or Miami Dolphins come to town and feel that icy blast as they run out onto the field.

However, it's changing. NFL teams like the Vikings made the decision to build new stadiums that were entirely covered, making them all-year round facilities capable of holding concerts and things like the college basketball play-offs. You'll see less and less open bowls in the northern cities in future, I expect.
One reason for the Vikings stadium being covered is they can now, and did, host a Super Bowl game.
Until then a Super Bowl north of the Mason-Dixon Line was rare. Seattle vs Denver at the Meadowlands is the only other I can think of at the moment.
 
Michigan being a prime example of this....think they just started with a bowl and its got bigger and bigger apart from a minor issue recently where they lost some capacity due to have to redesign some bits for disabled access. Saw something on social media once that suggested Michigan held some record of having had consecutive 100,000+ sell outs dating back to the late 70s\early 80s.

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Looks good. I’ve never been, but isn’t it mostly bench seating? and the rake of the stands looks very shallow, so not the most comfortable and will feel as though the pitch is miles away. Get the impression that the concourse areas won’t be very plush at these college stadiums either. More like ours (or worse) rather than like Tottenham Hotspur.
 
Looks good. I’ve never been, but isn’t it mostly bench seating? and the rake of the stands looks very shallow, so not the most comfortable and will feel as though the pitch is miles away. Get the impression that the concourse areas won’t be very plush at these college stadiums either. More like ours (or worse) rather than like Tottenham Hotspur.
I’ve only been to MetLife where the Jets and Giants share and that’s very much like the standard new ground concourse you get at modern football grounds.

Michigan Stadium was originally built in the late 1920’s as a 70,000 capacity so no idea what the underneath of the stands is like but must have been modernised at some points along the way.
 
Prob the ones that get the coldest and snowiest are Lambeau, Soldier Field (Bears), Highmark/Orchard Park (Buffalo), Gillette (Pats) and Mile High (Denver). No wonder Minnesota went indoors. I can’t imagine what it’s like there in mid January.

There’s nothing even remotely like it in (our) football.

That’s a very simplistic view, as I am sure you’re aware 😉. Players are on average way quicker, way heavier and way nastier. I once interviewed a very famous NFL running back called LaDainian Tomlinson who said that every game he played was like him being involved in 30-40 car crashes.

I love rugby, but American football is an absolutely brutal, crazy sport.
Was being facetious marra
 
Is that because you don’t have the intelligence to understand it?
I generally find that when someone says that a sport is shite it’s because they’ve never taken any time to watch it, understand it or bother to dive into its culture.

I mean, I could easily say that knitting is shite. Maybe it is. But I won’t ever say that until I try it or find out about it (which I doubt I ever will, to be honest).
One reason for the Vikings stadium being covered is they can now, and did, host a Super Bowl game.
Until then a Super Bowl north of the Mason-Dixon Line was rare. Seattle vs Denver at the Meadowlands is the only other I can think of at the moment.
Only others held in what you would call a northern state are two in Detroit – Ford Field (SB XL) and Pontiac Silverdome (SB XVI) – and one at Lucas Oil Field in Indy (SB XLVI). All indoor stadiums, of course.

No problems either way this February as it's off to Vegas.
How did you end up interviewing an NFL Hall of Famer?
I'll PM you exact details 😀, but I'm a journo by trade (mainly a commercial copywriter/editor now).
 
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The modern Domes are inclosed but they cost a fortune to build A&T stadium the Cowboys new was around 1.5 billion.

Also with them being Astro turf there has been documented evidence of more injuries to skill players ankles and knees in particular.

Conditions outside can be a huge advantage the cold of Buffalo or heat in Miami.

My team the 49ers new place Santa Clara you can get a bit of everything wind, sun and rain.

Much easier to kick in a dome watched a rookie kicker last night smash 60 yard fields goals like they where chip shots.
 
The modern Domes are inclosed but they cost a fortune to build A&T stadium the Cowboys new was around 1.5 billion.

Also with them being Astro turf there has been documented evidence of more injuries to skill players ankles and knees in particular.

Conditions outside can be a huge advantage the cold of Buffalo or heat in Miami.

My team the 49ers new place Santa Clara you can get a bit of everything wind, sun and rain.

Much easier to kick in a dome watched a rookie kicker last night smash 60 yard fields goals like they where chip shots.
SF has its own weather. Unlike anywhere else in the country.
 
Nothing like a Canadian Football League game on the windswept Prairies - Edmonton, Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg all have open stadiums. Temperatures can easily go below 0C for late season games.
 
Went to Met Life to see the Patriots play the Jets at the end of November a few years ago and was on the back row where there is an opening between the top of the stands and the roof that covers the stand. It was bloody freezing with the wind coming in!!
Was that for 4 hours aswell?
 
I've been at a Green Bay playoff game in January, unbelievably cold. In between plays in the game there were snow ploughs going up and down the field.
There were thousands upon thousands tailgating before and after the game in sub zero temperatures and heavy snowfall. They just embrace the whole experience.
 
Was that for 4 hours aswell?
Yep pretty much. Other half who has no interest in the NFL at all was pretty fed up and cold by the end!
The modern Domes are inclosed but they cost a fortune to build A&T stadium the Cowboys new was around 1.5 billion.

Also with them being Astro turf there has been documented evidence of more injuries to skill players ankles and knees in particular.

Conditions outside can be a huge advantage the cold of Buffalo or heat in Miami.

My team the 49ers new place Santa Clara you can get a bit of everything wind, sun and rain.

Much easier to kick in a dome watched a rookie kicker last night smash 60 yard fields goals like they were chip shots.
Dallas kicker last night twice hit the crossbar when kicking off so from 75yd like it was nothing.

 
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Thats mainly because the grounds are miles from anywhere with massive car parks and they all drive there. This is an aerial view of Metlife which is over in New Jersey but not that far from New York and despite being an 80,000 seat stadium its swamped by the car parks around it!

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Went to MetLife a few years ago to watch Falcons / Jets.
Absolutely pissed down from morning till night, got absolutely draked, not an enjoyable experience unfortunately.
The Yanks were still tailgating before the game and gave us food and beers before we went in.
Falcons home ground is unreal and it has a roof on 👍🏻
 

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