2014 Super Bowl in New York, A Winner.
Posted by dynamicsportsblog on May 26, 2010
The debate is now in full swing as to whether the NFL’s decision to hold the 2014 Super Bowl in New Jersey/New York is the right decision. That of course depends on who the decision is for. Is it the right decision for fans? Is it the right decision for the NFL? Is it the right decision for the players? Is it the right decision for corporate America? I think the answer to nearly all of those questions is, yes.
The new Meadowlands Stadium, site of the 2014 Super Bowl
Think about when most cities are awarded Super Bowl’s and the national excitement that surrounds that decision. In most cases, there’s maybe a day of buzz and then it’s forgotten by everyone except the host city selected. With the selection of New York, that changes dramatically, and it’s not just because of the weather. Sure, the weather is a topic of discussion and certainly stands to be a major factor in the game. But don’t we expect the top NFL players to be able to play in any condition? Particularly after a full season in which most teams likely had to play at least one game in some kind of adverse weather conditions, be that cold, rain, snow or even extreme heat in some cases. It’s football and it’s to be played in whatever conditions Mother Nature has in mind that particular day.
But now, you’re talking about playing the world’s biggest single-day sports event in the largest media market in the U.S. For the NFL, the next three and a half years will be a constant stream of publicity and interest in the 2014 game. The Super Bowl makes its money leading up to the game, and there’s never been a lead up like this. How fast do you think commercials will be sold out, and at what price per commercial? Imagine the scramble for real estate, night clubs and any party space that can host any type of related event during Super Bowl Week. How much merchandise for the 2014 game do you think will be sold in advance? The NFL will be policing New York City streets for licensing infringement trying to capture of wave of knock-offs on street corners in every borough. Yes, the 2014 game will provide a Super Side Show like we’ve never seen before.
For corporate America, it really doesn’t get any better from a sponsorship perspective. Interest will be at a peak, and hopefully, the current economic funk will be a memory by 2014. Not that we would suggest free spending just because of the location provided, but there’s no question that corporate exposure can be maximized like never before because of the audience and media platform that this game will provide, combined with the proximity to Madison Avenue and Wall Street that can make so many forms of marketing pay off around a mega event like this. Given all of the circumstances in place, great strategy and creativity can really pay off and it could payoff for years leading up to the game, not just for the week leading up to the game. How big could a naming rights deal get for the new Meadowlands Stadium? Talk about biggie-sized!
So, bring it on. Cold, snow. sleet, whatever. This is going to be big in almost every way possible. For the corporations that seek to get on board early, create a meaningful strategy and execute it with great creativity, there’s an opportunity like never before.
