Officials Ready For Possibility Of Snow, Extreme Cold At Super Bowl
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The snowstorm Tuesday dumped more than a foot of accumulation in East Rutherford, N.J. – the site of Super Bowl XLVIII.
But as CBS 2's Tony Aiello reported, more than 1,200 workers on Wednesday used tractors, shovels and brooms to sweep the snow off the field at MetLife Stadium. And 11 days before the game, the team planning the event said from snow to extreme cold, it is ready for anything.
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NFL Commish Goodell Hasn't Checked Forecast For Super Bowl XLVIII
A mountain of snow nearly obscured the parking lot view of the mammoth stadium Wednesday, as front-end loaders moved through the frozen tundra of the Meadowlands.
But officials said the thick blanket of white 12 days before the Super Bowl has a silver lining.
"The silver lining is, we're running ourselves through a rigorous dress rehearsal," said NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman.
Grubman said the team at MetLife performed perfectly – clearing the stadium in a matter of hours.
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NFL officials have been watching the long-range forecast, but it was too early Wednesday to tell whether more snow was in the game plan for Super Bowl Sunday.
"All that I would even hazard a guess is it's probably going to be cold," Grubman said. "I doubt we're going to have an unusual warm spell 10 days from now based on what we're looking at."
Officials Ready For Possibility Of Snow, Extreme Cold At Super Bowl
From slips and falls to frostbite, extreme cold brings medical emergencies. Thus, a mobile emergency room will be set up at the stadium.
The facility will have seven beds and all the state-of-the-art equipment that would be found in the permanent ER at Hackensack University Medical Center.
"We're fully equipped, staffed, and ready to go," said Dr. Joseph Feldman of the medical center.
Appropriately for Super Bowl XLVIII, the mobile emergency department even has a warming unit - in essence a small oven that can heat up blankets and IV fluids -- to treat people for exposure to cold.
"One is, I'm not sure how reliable forecasts are this far out," Goodell said in a New York Daily News interview. "And two is, we have a whole group of people that are getting the best information, have the right team together, to make sure we have appropriate information at the right time. There's nothing I can do about that. Our team has been working to be prepared for all alternatives and I'm confident they will be."
Goodell said he will be outside in the elements with everyone else lucky enough to snag a ticket to the big game.
"I'm sitting in the stands," Goodell told the New York Daily News. "We're playing in New York, New Jersey, yes, I am going to be in the stands. I'm sitting outside. This is part of the experience. I will be sitting outside."
The Denver Broncos will take on the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2.
Taking In The Fun On Super Bowl Sunday Comes With A Cost
With thousands of people pouring into the area for the big game a lot of fans will be looking for ways to get in on the fun.
"The experience, it's gonna be crazy. Especially here in Jersey," Junior Cintron told CBS 2's Don Champion.
If you're interested in getting in on that "crazy experience" be prepared to spend some money.
Tickets to the big game run in the thousands. For a lower sideline ticket fans can expect to shell out $5,800, a nosebleed seat will cost about half that amount.
With ticket prices rising sky-high some fans said they were content to catch the game from home.
"It's always better seeing it on TV than paying $2,500," Jace Jones said.
If you do make it out to MetLife Stadium you'll need to park, that will set you back $150.
Since it's February, in New Jersey, fans will also need to stay warm. Official Super Bowl clothing is available with team jerseys going for $150 and jackets coming in at $160.
For some fans the expense will be well worth it.
"It would be a once in a lifetime experience. It almost classifies as a bucket list thing," one fan told CBS 2's Champion.
CBS 2 checked to to find out what concession stand costs will be on Super Bowl Sunday, but were told that the NFL decides the prices for food and alcohol items.
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