Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Extreme conditions get romanticized, but indoor stadiums a better option for NFL
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The NFL produced almost $12 billion in shared income in 2023. Average revenue for each of the league’s teams was nearly $600 million. The franchises have their cities over a barrel, holding them hostage to build (mostly gratis) anything the teams want.
There’s no excuse for every team to not have an indoor stadium or at least a retractable roof.
That would avoid complications like the Steelers’ playoff game at Buffalo being pushed back till 4:30 p.m. Monday because of severe weather.
It’s not just the inconvenience of the postponement.
Bad weather can randomize results, minimize skill and maximize luck. A 17-game schedule is played, then the route to the Super Bowl might get pockmarked by blizzard-induced upsets.
Extreme conditions in football get romanticized, like the “Ice Bowl” at Green Bay to decide the NFL championship in 1967.
The temperature was minus-15. The wind chill was minus-48. The field was crusted with ice. Whistles froze to the officials’ lips.
Green Bay beat Dallas on a late quarterback sneak. The “Ice Bowl” is considered one of the greatest games in football history.
But, on the day, every person present would have rather been indoors. Every single man, woman and child inside Lambeau Field. Players, coaches, referees, fans, media, grounds crew, vendors, ball boys, everybody.
It’s about the safety and health of the players, staff and game officials. It’s about protecting the legitimacy of the result. It’s about serving the gambling industry, which has the leagues and networks held hostage.
The fans are a minor concern.
Related:
• Winter storm forces postponement of Steelers-Bills playoff game
• Mark Madden: Mike Tomlin continues to disrespect Steelers savior Mason Rudolph
• Tim Benz: Words matter when discussing the ‘Mason-Andre Rudolph’ story
If the fans can’t get to the game safely, refund their money. They can watch on TV. One game’s ticket revenue is a relatively insignificant fraction.
There was briefly a scheme to eventually play the conference championship games at neutral sites, presumably indoor or warm-weather. That notion got roundly criticized.
Right now, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea.
There’s talk about Steelers-Bills being delayed to Tuesday if severe weather continues. Given that forecasts made days ago predicted badly inclement conditions, the NFL should have long since moved the game to a neutral site like Detroit. Asking the winner to play just four or five days later would be an unfair disadvantage.