Eagles Say They Want to Host a Super Bowl

The Inquirer reports that the Eagles are ready to pursue hosting a Super Bowl—provided this weekend’s cold-weather matchup in New Jersey doesn’t turn out to be a frozen disaster for the NFL. Team president Don Smolenski says he’s ready to give it a try.

Smolenski said the team probably would make a play for the game if fans and corporate sponsors enjoy their experience in North Jersey and weather conditions don’t mar the game between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks.

“If it goes well, that’s definitely a possibility,” Smolenski said when asked if the Eagles would try to bring the Super Bowl to Philadelphia.

“We’re very proud of Lincoln Financial Field. We do think it’s a great facility, and we think over the years that’s been evident. It would be a sense of pride. Philadelphia is a world-class city with world-class facilities, and it’s a great sports town. It would be a chance to showcase Philadelphia on an international stage.”

The Daily News says the massive video board upgrades at the Linc, announced Wednesday, are being installed with the Big Game in mind, but cautions against raised hopes:

When a city and a franchise combine to erect a new stadium, the pair usually hopes for a Super Bowl to be played in the stadium at some point. The argument against hosting the Super Bowl in a city with a cold-weather climate and an outdoor stadium long has rested on, well, that cold-weather climate.

When Smolenski spoke last night, the temperature outside his offices at the NovaCare Center was 15 degrees. The wind-chill index was 3 degrees.

Those conditions Sunday should be slightly worse 95 miles north, at MetLife Stadium – an outdoor field where the Broncos will face the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. If the game is watchable – if the weather does not ruin the competition – there will be little argument against a city such as Philadelphia playing host.

The next available Super Bowl for hosting, though, will probably be in 2019.