If only the city ran this well.
The NFL used the vortex-driven blast that dumped a foot of snow in MetLife Stadium and left temperatures in the single digits, to test out their cold-weather contingency plan.
“If this storm had stopped the day before the Super Bowl, I’m confident that we would have the Super Bowl at the appointed time,” said the NFL’s executive vice president Eric Grubman.
Indeed, as New York City officials defended their poor game plan, stadium workers were seen in the stands moving snow to chutes that funneled it down to the field.
There, front loaders were pushing it into piles that would be loaded into Aero snow melters that can melt up to 600 tons of snow per hour.
Grubman said the stadium and the NFL were running this as a dress rehearsal, starting at 7 a.m. for what they said was an 18-hour deadline.
“We have people watching and evaluating and grading,” Grubman said. “We’re treating this as if it’s pregame and we have to get the stadium cleared.”
“That cleanup is a complete removal,” Grubman added. “Every seat has snow removed. The concourse has snow removed. All areas of walking, sitting, business, tents — all snow is removed.”
Grubman also showed off the welcome kit that fans and media members will find on their seats. The kit includes lip balm, blue Super Bowl ear muffs, black knit cap, blue knit gloves with yellow fingertips that are touch sensitive for phones, six hand warmers, cup holder, a Gaiter-dana, which can be used as face mask or head warmer, a package of Puffs tissues, and a radio that you can wear around your neck that has four stations: FOX TV, Westwood One, FOX Deportes and the PA announcer.