Holding Super Bowl XLVIII outdoors in New Jersey raised fears of Mother Nature’s wrath intercepting the big game Sunday, but warm temperatures and clear skies co-operated. However, there were times in the past that the Super Bowl was almost cancelled.
Event cancellation and business interruption policies that would have been put into effect had severe winter weather hit the New Jersey area appear safe, as weather forecasters anticipate temperatures to be in the plus 2 Celsius range, with little to no chance of precipitation.
But it wouldn’t be the first time insurers have held their breath for what has become a week-long event leading up to, and including, the Super Bowl:
New Orleans 2013
Only last year at the start of the third quarter, an electrical relay malfunctioned, causing a blackout that delayed the game for 34 minutes. Ironically, the device had been installed to prevent a blackout, and caused the power outage when it wasn’t used properly.
Power was eventually restored, and a re-energized Baltimore Ravens went on to beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31.
Dallas 2011
The Dallas-Fort Worth area was slammed by ice and snow storms the week leading up to Super Bowl XLV, shutting down airports and leaving area roads covered in ice. Seven people near the stadium were injured by chunks of ice falling off the roof only days before the game.
The planned pre-Super Bowl activities were affected, with an estimated $611 million in revenue lost due to the storm, according to the North Texas host committee.
But the game proceeded on schedule, and the Green Bay Packers and their fans were saying ‘cheese’ defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25. (continued.)
#pb#
Miami 2007
A torrential downpour forced fans from their seats and may have contributed to six turnovers, a missed field goal and a missed extra point in the first half of Super Bowl XLI – but the game went on and the Indianapolis Colts sloshed their way to a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Dolphins Stadium.
New Orleans 2002
Follow the September 11 attacks in 2001, the NFL postponed games for Week 2, which had a ripple effect of pushing all the playoff games back by one week. The game – originally scheduled for January 27, was moved to February 3, making it the first Super Bowl to be played in that month – and the first of three Super Bowl victories for the Tom Brady-led Patriots. Super Bowl XXXVI: New England 20, St. Louis Rams 17.
Detroit 1982
The Cincinnati Bengals defense couldn’t stop Joe Montana, and neither could a traffic jam outside the Pontiac Silverdome.
The San Francisco 49ers team bus was stuck in traffic a half mile from the Pontiac Silverdome for Super Bowl XVI. The gridlock – caused by then-Vice President George Bush’s motorcade passing through, caused the team to arrive at the field just in time for kick off. Although arriving late, the 49ers scored often and early, defeating the Bengals 26-21.
