If Land Shark wants to host another Super Bowl, it better shape up.
Oh, and it'll have to do something about all the rain in South Florida, too.
So says the NFL's senior VP of events, in town yesterday for a luncheon with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
"You have to look at what the other cities are offering in terms of comfort," Frank Supovitz said, according to the Miami Herald. "I'm not going to have anyone rained on in North Texas, They're not going to get rained on in Indianapolis."
In addition to our lack of roof or weather-controlling technologies, Supovitz said he didn't think our skyboxes were up to snuff and we apparently don't have the high-def lighting that really makes a stadium shine on Super Sunday.
The criticisms come just a four months ahead of Super Bowl XLIV, which Miami will host on Feb. 7. It could turn into another rain-soaked affair like 2007's Super Bowl XLI, where the Bears and Colts got drenched at what was then called Dolphin Stadium.
Land Shark, aka Joe Robbie Stadium, aka Pro Player Park, aka Pro Player Stadium, etc., has been a popular destination for the NFL's main event since it was opened in August, 1987. Four Super Bowls have previously been held at the stadium, in '89, '95, '99 and the previously mentioned '07. But will it play host again after 2010?
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We're "working with the NFL to see what should be done," Dolphins CEO Mike Dee said yesterday, adding that the aging Land Shark may also be putting itself out of contention for future BCS Championship games, after it hosts the 2013 game.
"We only have one more BCS championship committed," Dee said. He hopes to refocus his energy on the bid to host the 2014 Super Bowl after losing out to New Orleans to host in 2013.
The stadium itself isn't the only culprit. A lousy economy in South Florida is already having an effect on the 2010 Super Bowl, after the use of yachts for the 32 NFL owners during Super Bowl week in Miami was dropped. Instead, fishing trips for 200 disadvantaged youths in Broward and Miami-Dade have been planned.
Other scale backs for the game are likely, said South Florida Super Bowl committee head Rodney Baretto.
"Times change," Barreto said.
At least one thing won't change: the arm, leg and first-born child it will cost you to go to the game. Tickets to Super Bowl XLIV start at $500 a piece, if you're lucky enough to get them directly from the NFL.
