Fans have refused to let the deflate-gate scandal go, so much so that all anyone seems to care about these days is the expression Roger Goodell will wear when he gives Tom Brady and company the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday, just months after Roger punished Brady for his supposed involvement in the scandal. But this is what makes betting on the NFL fun.
The petty disputes add drama to an already dramatic sport. Of course, the Brady/Patriots drama is likely to disappear in the background in light of efforts by the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee to prepare for Super Bowl LII. There will be a public hand-off on Monday.
In fifty-two weeks, the attention of the United States will shift to a winter market that rarely plays host to the Super Bowl. Andrea Mokros stands at the head of the Minnesota Committee as Vice President and he expects the fans to embrace the cold.
Mokros joined his fellow committee members as they toured Houston, scrutinizing everything from the bus yards and transport hubs to the preparation processes for the volunteers. Mokros’ optimism was elevated by the compact nature of the community around which the Super Bowl will take place. Everything from the theaters to the bars is within walking distance of the stadium.
And even though Taxi services like Uber are in high demand, the light rail is available for more convenient means of public transportation. Fans are likely to concentrate their activities around the convention center and the Nicollet Mall (which will be renovated to avail overhead heating), the interactive football bazaar where autographs will be signed and the Super Bowl Live Entertainment Center.
The city is more than capable of accommodating the hordes that will descend in winter, not only availing a successful Super Bowl Event but organizing an appropriate Winter Carnival beforehand.
The Twin Cities have adequately dealt with the pressure of previous sporting events.
The Baseball All-Star Game in 2014 was a bit of a hassle, what with players cutting through downtown Minneapolis, but the cities held up. The 250,000 fans that accompanied the Ryder Cup last fall caused all manner of traffic jams and elicited the ire of the locals. But the Twin Cities were still praised for the success of the event.
If there is any anxiety about Minnesota delivering on its grand promises once more, it might emanate from the fact that the Super Bowl will last a disturbing ten days, which is pretty daunting.
The event is going to take over the city. The 850 police officers will definitely be strained, and so will the traffic, communications and public safety systems. The committee is still trying to figure out how they will organize the outdoor activities for downtown.
The committee must also worry about keeping the roads clear in cold weather. Things will begin to take shape once the budget is agreed upon. The committee is trusting that the locals will adjust their schedules to deal with the inconvenience of the Super Bowl.
Fans might soon start to worry about the ticket prices, especially if the cold weather causes the costs of hosting the Super Bowl to spike.