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kve820
11-26-2005, 03:40 PM
Weather and the NFL

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It's that time of year folks. The Weather has played an important part of NFL games for A long time. The first indoor playoff game was played in Chicago Stadium in 1932. They had to because of bitter cold and heavy snow. What is even more remarkable about that game, is the way the field was set up, it was only 80 yards long! That is all the site would allow. The goal post were moved from the back lines to the goal lines, what a mess. They'd been better off to play it outside in the first place in my opinion.

Weather has had alot of influences on the games outcome. The Patriots and Raiders a few years ago. Denver and Oakland game last year was played in a snow storm, but the Raiders won that game. And who can forget the Chicago and 49er's game recently, windy day played a big factor. I love the elements, to me that's part of the game. I do not like dome stadiums, yes they are good for certain aspects, like "it looks good for TV", I mean I understand that it's alot easier to fill a stadium indoors at 70 degrees than say 15 degree outside temperature stadium. Money is the main factor here, what a suprise.

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Watching games on Thanksgiving day they showed when Leon Lett made his famous bone headed play against the Dolphins. The play would have itself been remembered but with the snow all around, made it that much more remarkable.

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Would the Ice Bowl game between the Packer's and Cowboy's been remembered as well if they had played it inside? Of coarse not. That's why it's the Ice Bowl. Who could forget the Fog Bowl in Chicago. That was one of the Stranges games I have ever watched or somewhat watched, you really could not tell alot of what was happening in that game.
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My first ever NFL game I attended was a Denver Broncos versus Kansas City Chiefs at Mile High Stadium. Before the game it was raining and through to the end of the first quarter. Then things changed quickly, rained changed to snow and got real cold quick. It was October so we didn't bring anything real heavy to wear, so we where at the mercy of the elements. Well by games end there was nearly 3 inches on the ground. Denver had lost but I got to see Marcus Allen get his 100th TD as a Chief. Better to see history than to go home cold and just witness a loss.

Yes, weather plays an important part in football. All the way back to my childhood days when all the neighborhood kid's got together and we played in the rain and snow and cold. We'd come home bruised, some had broken bones from time to time. But when the weather got bad, we headed outside to play football. I remember playing once it had rained all week long, water standing every where, we could not wait any longer, we went and played football, I came home, you couldn't see any thing but my eyes, everything else was covered in mud. Mom wasn't too happy. She hosed us off with the water hose, in 40 degree weather, ah the memories.

There are so many games remembered because of the weather that they are too many to list. Most wouldn't have been remembered if it hadn't been for weather. Raining, or snowy or windy or bitter cold or even fog. Weather is a great neutralizer of teams. It can make a super fast team slower. It can make a great passing team look mediocre. Most weather games end up being a defensive game. Well today that doesn't sell, but for me it's just fine with me. I'd take a 6-3 game anytime in the snow over a 45-40 game in a dome.

The Dome teams today to me miss a fun part of the game. Weather. Yes it gets cold sometimes. But I believe weather is as much of the game as is the ones playing the game. When a game is played we all here about the 12th man the fans, well when you are playing outdoors in the weather, there is a 13th and he/she plays on both teams.

anditsgood
11-26-2005, 10:47 PM
i been to a few cold weather game along with some snow games. the best game ive been to was the magical dolphins--the "snow game" as its remembered by the youngsters here--the snow being thrown in the air after tedy bruschis td made up for more then searching for your snow covered seats and freezing you butts off--lol

kve820
11-26-2005, 11:32 PM
I can remember many games at denver played in the snow. Who could forget the snow ball throw that messed up the 49er's kicker trying to kick the winning field goal or the snow ball and fight between the Raiders and Bronco fans? Down in Miami/ Tampa some of the rainest games ever played. Endless games, I love the elements.

Crunked
11-26-2005, 11:37 PM
I miss the elements, with domes and retractable roofs, partially covered stadiums and roll off roofs to be afforded a Super Bowl hosting berth, if you will. I think it should be mandated that every stadium built from this day forward it MUST be an open air stadium and each city gets an opportunity to host, so that every 32 years its in your town, talk about anticipation. Let the marketting of it all be damned that is the way it should be!

mhwolfgang
11-27-2005, 09:25 AM
I've always said the games should be played outdoors in the elemnts. Since they started building covered and domed stadiums, a big factor of the games have been affected.

If all the stadiums were open, then there couldn't be any argument that team A has an advantage over team B because of weather conditions. All the teams would be playing the season in whatever weather conditions are happening.

jjflr
11-27-2005, 09:54 AM
Great topic, kve.

I am also a 'purist' and believe that football should be played in the elements. Personally, I enjoyed playing when the elements were a little harsher also. It just 'felt' right. :)

Football + cold + snow = perfection :D

Shoey
11-27-2005, 10:29 AM
There's been talk of a retractable roof stadium to be put in Downtown Buffalo within the next 15 years when the Ralph needs replacing. I don't know what to think... would they have to close such a place every time it snowed? or is it up to the organization?

I think the whole reason it's being talked about is because Buffalo wants a superbowl bid someday.

jjflr
11-27-2005, 10:49 AM
Shoey, that would be up to the organization. For instance, Kansas City is considering a retractable roof for Arrowhead. Lamar Hunt, the owner, has stated that it would never be used for Chiefs games. They would play all of their games outdoors.

It is solely for special events (Final Four, Super Bowl, etc.).

Blackmallard
11-29-2005, 05:00 PM
I like that there are domes also. It's another form of hostile environment. It is interesting to see games where the elements are a factor, and how each team handles it, but domes have their own factors such as increased noise. It is also interesting to hear people argue things such as "Maybe the reason Mike Vick wins so many games is because he plays in a dome" or "dome teams can't win outdoors" or the idea that turf makes the Rams or the Colts faster.

I'd hate to see all the teams play indoors, but I don't think that will happen. I do like the variety of having some dome teams because that is another environment to adjust to, just like snow, fog, rain, or wind.

I also think that it would be better to play the Superbowl in all the different NFL towns, as Crunked suggested.