As I drove along the Henry Hudson Parkway, which hugs the banks of the Hudson River, and saw the George Washington Bridge in the distance, I began to feel excited. It was that feeling you get right before you show up to the game. That feeling when you know that no matter the outcome, you’re going to have a good time.
Getting to the Meadowlands Sports Complex was delightfully uneventful considering that it was game day and I expected to sit in stopped traffic on the highway for quite some time. But I meandered through the parking checkpoints and found the lot I had been assigned. When I exited my car, I could just barely make out the stadium as it peeked out over the arching horizon. Simply put, I had a bit of a walk to go meet Romeo at the train station at the opposite entrance. It wasn’t a problem, though–the weather was perfect.
As I walked, I watched as people tossed footballs around wearing Eli Manning jerseys and flipped burgers on portable grills. The entire atmosphere was filled with the happiness of fans who couldn’t wait until kick-off. When I finally made it to Romeo, we walked down off of the train platform, made our way through security, and entered into the underbelly of the massive Metlife stadium.
From the outside, the stadium looks like a giant bird’s nest, with a series of large steel louvers winding around its entire circumference that, by design, might be meant to divert the wind. Inside the basement area of the stadium is a small city, comprised of an uncountable number of rooms and corridors. Wasting no time once inside, we made our way to the press elevator and were whisked upwards to the press box.
Inside, the press box is very office-like. If something wasn’t white, it was glass or brushed steel–very modern and utilitarian looking–a place for business to coincide with entertainment. The accommodations couldn’t have been better. We found our seats, I plugged in my laptop, connected to their wi-fi network, and then Romeo and I grabbed a bite to eat from the press cafeteria while the teams were warming up on the field below.
During the game, a slew of statistical information was thrust in our direction and announced through an expansive network of speakers and televisions. We knew as much about the game as any football fan could ever ask for. While there was no audio jack for Romeo to listen to the play-by-play at our work station, he easily picked up the WFAN broadcast on his radio (which was coming from a few booths down) and was able to keep up with every little detail.
Afterwards, when we went into the locker room, we were immediately met by a member of the Giants’ PR staff, who said, “You must be Ross and Romeo. If you need anything or would like an introduction to the players, let me know.”
Which brings me to my final point–this trip exceeded my expectations. Not because of the quality of the game, or even the facility, but because of the New York Giants staff. Not once did I ever encounter one person who wasn’t more than happy to answer a question, or seek out someone who knew the answer. They treated us the same as any front page sports writer for the New York Times. They really made us feel so welcome, and I am immeasurably grateful for the entire experience that they offered Romeo and me.
So, as I said in my previous announcement, I hope that this is the first of many experiences for the Ziegler writers. I also hope that those of you who checked in on the live blog on the website enjoyed the coverage of the game and the commentary from Romeo and me.
Have a great week. Take care, and thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
Ross Hammond, Editor