Tailgating banned at New York/Jersey Super Bowl

[CF DolFan]

Not that many hardcore fans get to go anyway but they have officially banned tailgating for this year. As well there are only 13,000 parking spaces so public transportation is extremely encouraged. And finally  .... no walk-ups or drop-offs including limos and taxis. You either have a parking space or you won't be allowed near the stadium.

Woo hoo ... now please just add a blizzard!!!

[Landshark]

Hasn't tailgating been banned at the Super Bowl since 9/11?

[CF DolFan]

No. Security has been tighter but no ban on tailgating.

From SI article ...

That getting to and from MetLife Stadium might be difficult is not exactly a new revelation — one that will prove doubly true if the weather is inclement on that night. But the tailgate ban figures to be met with consternation, especially given how festive the atmospheres have been surrounding the stadiums in previous host cities like New Orleans, Miami and Indianapolis.

[Phishfan]

^^^ Actually tailgating has been banned and in fact was banned in Miami so the author really needed to do his homework before mentioning the party atmosphere there. There is still going to be a party going on in NJ, but it will be NFL sponsored so that they have attendance for the cameras and generate business for their vendors rather than have it all in the parking lot (what little there appears to be).

This is about tailgating when the SB was in AZ and appears to be a very similar rule, "Though tailgating's allowed outside University of Phoenix Stadium in suburban Glendale, it's restricted to fans with tickets, and parties must be contained to single parking spaces. And no grills or open flames."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?id=3224723

And here is an announcement where it was banned at Sun Life http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/26/tailgating-banned-at-dolphin-stadium-for-super-bowl-sunday/

[CF DolFan]

Apparently I was misinformed. Again ... considering the crowd I don't know that it makes much difference.

I've seen several articles about it from different papers. Just goes to show you can't believe everything you see or read.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

This is a minor issue for multiple reasons:

1) More so than at some other stadiums, Metlife does not have adiquate parking that is owned or controlled by the stadium, but relies heavily on people parking at privately owned parking lots that are close by.  The NFL does not have control over these parking lots and any one who want to tailgate can choose to park at one of these lots.

2) More so than at Miami or other venues, fewer out-of-towners are going to rent a car, but rather use the extensive NYC public transportation system to get to and from the game.   (Granted if the game is Patriots vs. Eagles there could be a lot of people driving to the game, but only a fool would fly to NYC and then rent a car.)

3) It is going to be cold.  When my brother-in-law went to NO @ NE two weeks ago, they sat in the car rather than tailgate, b/c of the weather.  Most people aren't going to want to be outdoors for an extra three hours, rather they will stay in their car or seek out an area bar or restaurant.

[Spider-Dan]

Not that many hardcore fans get to go anyway but they have officially banned tailgating for this year. As well there are only 13,000 parking spaces so public transportation is extremely encouraged. And finally  .... no walk-ups or drop-offs including limos and taxis.

So wait... if you can't walk-up, how are you supposed to take public transportation?  Is there a train that goes into the stadium?

[TonyB0D]

Allow me to opine since i grew up literally a mile from the stadium....

The parking lot used to be massive and everyone could park there, but 10 or so years ago they started building a monstrosity of a complex that was supposed to be a mega-shopping/convention/resort center.   Eventually funding dried up and the eyesore sits, unused, rotting away; this took up most of the available parking.

There are not really any private lots around the stadium as it is in on a weird site in the middle of a swamp.  There are a few smaller lots around the surrounding town, and i believe they have shuttles.

I'm not sure about bus options, but they just built a new train line that drops you off at the stadium; so I expect anyone coming to NJ from NY will use this option.

As for the no walk-ups, this is just retarded.  I don't know how they will enforce this, because as you can see from google earth, the complex is massive and fenceless in many places.  Also, there are several hotels next to the complex where people staying there will walk from; how are these people supposed to get to the game?

[CF DolFan]

"You cannot walk to the Super Bowl," Kelly said. "You can get your hotel to drop you off at one of the New Jersey Transit locations or get the shuttle to take you to a Fan Express location, but you cannot walk."

The entire ESPN article is below.

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Forget about setting up those kegs or buffet tables in the parking lot before this season's Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium. There will be no tailgating, according to the game's committee CEO, Al Kelly.

"You will be allowed to have food in your car and have drink in your car," Kelly said. "And provided you're in the boundaries of a single parking space, you'll be able to eat or drink right next to your car. However, you're not going to be able to take out a lounge chair, you're not going to be able to take out a grill, and you're not going to be able to take up more than one parking space. And it'll all be watched very carefully."

“
NFLYou will be allowed to have food in your car and have drink in you car. And provided you're in the boundaries of a single parking space, you'll be able to eat or drink right next to your car.
”
-- Al Kelly, Super Bowl committee
The tailgating news came during the committee's Monday news conference regarding transportation and safety for the Feb. 2, 2014, game.

There will be only three ways for the expected 80,000 ticket holders to get to the game. The committee will charter buses called the Fan Express, which will cost $51 and pick up and drop off passengers at nine locations around the region. Fans can also take N.J. Transit to the MetLife Stadium stop or be dropped off by vehicles that must have parking passes.

There will be fewer than 13,000 parking spots available for fans.

And hiring a black car, taxi or limo won't be an option for VIPs who will spend thousands of dollars per ticket. No cars will be allowed near the stadium on game day without parking passes, and any car that drops off a passenger will have to wait at the stadium.

"Nobody's going to be dropped off by black car," Kelly said. "You can have a black car, a green car, a white car, a red car as long as you have parking, and the car needs to stay on the premises the entire time."

Fans who had considered parking farther from the stadium and getting there on foot will not be allowed to enter.

"You cannot walk to the Super Bowl," Kelly said. "You can get your hotel to drop you off at one of the New Jersey Transit locations or get the shuttle to take you to a Fan Express location, but you cannot walk."

Ultimately, Kelly said he expects that between 70 and 80 percent of all ticket holders will get to the game via public transportation or shuttle bus. There will be 1,600 parking spots for buses.

The reduced parking capacity is a result of the large security perimeter needed for the Super Bowl. Fans will have to go through security screenings at the train station and again at the stadium, Kelly said.

Kelly and fellow host committee members Woody Johnson (New York Jets owner) and Steve Tisch (New York Giants co-owner) have been calling Super Bowl XLVIII the public transportation Super Bowl ever since they started working on the logistics.

Kelly introduced officials from the MTA, NJ Transit and NJ Path to discuss the added schedules and plans for the week of the Super Bowl, when New York City and New Jersey could see an influx of 400,000 travelers.

NJ Transit will offer a Super Pass for $50 that will be good for all trains, light rail and bus service it provides.

The committee had tried to put together a transit card that would have allowed Super Bowl visitors to switch between all three forms of transit on a single ticket, but it fell apart. Kelly said the different technologies used by the organizations made it a complicated undertaking, though the desire was there.

James Simpson, the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, said the department will suspend all construction before the week of the game and planned to staff Super Bowl media day and game day at the same level it does for a weather emergency.

Lanes will be dedicated exclusively to official Super Bowl vehicles on game day. The goal, Simpson said, is to keep traffic moving smoothly on all highways and bridges during a potentially high-traffic time period.

Of course, there is potential for snow and ice. A blizzard might make for great television viewing but would be a logistical nightmare for Super Bowl organizers. Simpson said New Jersey has the equipment and personnel to manage any kind of weather, however.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/10109826/no-tailgating-parties-super-bowl-stadium

[MikeO]

Considering its going to be February I don't think many people will want to Tailgate in New Jersey. The area has been ice cold already this year and been hit with some snow. Come February if its like this....trust me nobody will want to eat a hot dog or hamburger in a parking lot on a little grill.

[Landshark]

Considering its going to be February I don't think many people will want to Tailgate in New Jersey. The area has been ice cold already this year and been hit with some snow. Come February if its like this....trust me nobody will want to eat a hot dog or hamburger in a parking lot on a little grill.

What they might want to do is cook a big pot of stew or chili or something that will warm your belly from the inside.  The NFL claims they've put severe restrictions on tailgating at the Super Bowl since 9/11.  I think they're doing it just so they can jack up the prices of beer and food in the stadium which are already high to begin with.