Super Bowl Might Prove to be Not-So-Super for New Jersey

For all the hype over the Super Bowl kicking off its New Jersey debut on Feb. 2, some elected North Jersey officials are accusing the National Football League (NFL) of treating them more like losers than winners. Though the biggest football matchup of the year will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, advertisers and sports networks regularly trumpet a “New York” game, and marketing representatives from the Manhattan-based NFL formally place it in “New York/New Jersey.”

Adding insult to injury for local leaders is the fact that more than 100 state departments have spent two years of their own time and expense to work with federal, county and municipal agencies to plan and provide services like security (including approximately 500 state troopers on Super Bowl Sunday), traffic control and transportation, but the NFL is making it difficult for local businesses to reap financial returns or public relations benefits.

Plus, as is customary, the league won’t allow unapproved use of the “Super Bowl” name, meaning that neither bars hosting parties nor municipalities throwing tailgating festivals can promote their events by calling them what they are: Super Bowl parties. There’s also talk that an anticipated $600 million in economic benefits may not materialize.

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