30 Reasons the University Of Phoenix Stadium is Better Than The Teams Playing There In the Super Bowl

While the media frenzy over the Super Bowl contenders heats up, let's not overlook the marvel of the University of Phoenix Stadium that is hosting the big game

It sure has been one heck of a football season, and the playoffs have kept us on our toes in almost every single game played. The New England Patriots have put away every single team that they played this year, but had some close calls down the stretch versus some very tough teams that many thought didn't even have a chance - one of those teams being the New York Giants, who they just so happen to be playing in this year's Super Bowl.

The fact that the Giants are even begin mentioned here is a bit of a surprise, as everyone pretty much pinned the dominant Cowboys (or should I say "crybabies") or the legend-that-is Brett Favre and his Packers in the big game. Not so as Peyton's little shaggy haired brother Eli Manning managed to NOT throw an interception, and, along with some ballerina-esque help from his wide receivers and a defense that really has flexed its muscle, has made this years Super Bowl one that no one ever expected.

But are these two teams the real stars of the show? Is is Tom Brady's accurate arm that will dazzle the masses in a few Sundays? How about Brandon Jacobs running through the New England defense to score a big touchdown? Perhaps there is something else going on that many may be unaware of. No, it's not the television commercials, nor is it Tom Petty, who plays the half-time show. Rather, it's the football stadium itself.

The University of Phoenix Stadium opened it's doors just last season in sunny Gelndale Arizona, and is home to the Arizona Cardinals. If you've never heard of the Cardinals before, it's because they've been a rather crappy football team since, oh I don't know, the beginning of their existence.

The only real newsworthy event in the teams recent history has been the acquisition of supposed future star Matt Leinart (so far that's not looking to pan out the way they planned) and the building of an amazing new football stadium.

So what's the big deal? Can a football stadium really be that cool and awesome that it outshines the players of the field? The answer to these questions is yes and yes!

The University of Phoenix stadium is a "marvel of design, engineering, and technology", and is the only American football stadium to be considered one of the top stadiums in the entire world.

Aside from the sheer amount of people it can house (the stadium seats around 63,000 which can be expanded another 10,000 if need be), the stadium is a modern showcase of architecture and technology. That's over 18 miles of seating!

You've probably seen a retractable roof before, but a retractable field? Yes, you heard me correctly. UoP Stadium has North America's first fully retractable grass field; a series of rail systems pulls the field in and out whenever the facility is having some non-football event. The field also sits outside during the week leading up to games on Sunday to allow the grass to be as healthy as possible.

The roof retracts as well, using two specific sections that allow the Arizona sunlight into the field without being too hot on fans watching the game.

The Stadiums design also features 21 slots around the entire facility that allows the shimmering metal panels to reflect the sunlight to allow views of the horizon from any point within. The design allows the visitor to feel like they are outside whether the roof is open or closed.

Occupying over 25 acres, the Stadium is a must-see-to-believe accomplishment. In addition to many awards and press, it has been named "The Best NFL Facility" by sports and business journals.

UoP provides a environmentally friendly recycling program to help keep the obvious consumption and excess of trash to a minimum, and the complex features more than a thousand trees throughout the plazas and the parking lots. The place truly is wonderful.

But what about the teams that are playing there in February? As with any NFL team, there's going to be controversy, and its seems as the sport becomes even more popular, the more drama will unfold. Both the Patriots and the Giants have had there share this year, and much of the talk about one team probably differs greatly from the other.

Take the Giants for example, and more specifically, their head coach Tom Coughlin. I can't think of a coach who's been on the hot seat and some how managed to keep his job year after year.

Former running back Tiki Barber has pretty much come out and stated that one, if not THE major reason he retired from the NFL to become a pretty boy news anchor was because of Coughlin's leadership; one wonders how Barber feels now that his former team is in the big game (this guy thinks Tiki is probably a little "miffed" at the situation.)

Other current Giants team members have eluded to how Coughlin deals with the team in certain situations (mostly off the field) and it's a wonder he's still the man. Whereas on the other side of the ball Bill Belichick is considered a coaching "god", Coughlin's going to have a rough time if he can't get his Giants to walk away with a win.

At least Giants fans can sleep better knowing they're not cheaters. That's right New England fans, my finger is pointed your way. While it was smart to get all the gossip in at the beginning of the season, don't think we haven't forgotten about the little video fiasco with the Jets after week one.

If anyone needs there memory refreshed, remember that New York Jet's Coach Eric Mangini had the pleasure of providing the league with evidence that the Patriots were actually videotaping the Jet's defensive coordinator during the game, and relaying the information obtained to their own guys so Tom and his boys could make adjustments and change plays accordingly.

Bill pretty much got caught red handed, and it doesn't take a Heisman Trophy winner to see how this can help out your game play. Hmm, the team with the most Super Bowl wins in recent times caught video taping plays? Go figure.

When you have parents with certain kinds of baggage, then it's a sure bet that their kids are going to be a little screwed up as well. Tom Brady has pretty much solidified his role as a future hall of famer quarterback by winning three super bowls in five years, and this year might change NFL history by not only blowing every other quarterback in the league in stats (he is the league MVP with the most yards, touchdowns, and completions), but could be the first undefeated quarterback in over twenty years should he win the Bowl. Hopefully his ankle sprain will not interfere with that.

What does all this mean? It means Brady is turning into a "do whatever it takes to win" player with a diabolical coach massaging his brain, obvious already with the video scandal. It makes one wonder how far Brady is willing to go to get the win, and what he'll do next if he does take home the ring.

If Brady has the megalomaniac complex on the field, then his competition in Eli Manning suffers from quite the opposite. A year after future quarterback legend turned commercial celebrity Peyton Manning marched his Colts to the Bowl and won his most coveted prize, his little brother is stepping into the big boy shoes with a chance to win one himself (which must really piss Peyton off considering it took Eli half as much time to get there).

With much of the world convinced at this point that Eli is not shaping up to be as good as his brother, it's a wonder if Eli even realizes he's actually playing in the Super Bowl.

While many will argue that he might have started too young or has not been coached properly, Eli's first several seasons were busts. Much of his performance can be accredited to his youth and inexperience, as many young quarterbacks are privy to getting sacked (Eli has had his share of turf sandwich), interceptions (while good so far in the playoffs, usually Eli will give one to the other team at least once in a game), and just plain old bad passing (or is Eli seeing imaginary receivers?)

His self confidence is rarely seen in post game interviews, and the fact that he still looks like a 16 year old who's scared of making a move on his prom date doesn't help. His performance in Super Bowl XLII will surley be important, either as a defining game that helps him grow up or a curse that forever keeps him in the hells of mediocrity.

Speaking of mediocrity, it's not like Eli has a whole lot to keep the attention off him. The running game for the Giants has been a little hit-or-miss since the departure of Tiki Barber last season, and because of injuries to the position, the team has yet to create a awe-inducing presence on the ground.

Big boy Brandon Jacobs went down in the first game of the season (the bigger they are, the harder they fall), and Derrick Ward soon got injured just as Jacobs was getting healthy. Jacobs is back in the game as their main man, but one wonders if he'll be utilized, what with the way third-string back Ahmad Bradshaw has been playing recently. He's had huge impacts late in the game for the Giants towards the end of the season and in the playoffs.

It seems the Giants are in a bit of a "who should get the ball" situation that they've been in all season (which doesn't include off season acquisition Reuben Droughns).

While Eli's receivers (Steve Smith must feel left out because of the fact that he has a normal first name) have been helping him out for the most part, if the Giants can't scare the Pats defense on the ground, he'll surely cave in from all the pressure the defense is going to bring.

That's if the defense can get out of their rocking chairs. Let's be real here, the team went 18-0, and it's hard to criticize that success. However, the team had several close calls at the end of the season with some losing record teams and one other team - the New York Giants.

While the New England defense did hold the Chargers in the red zone quite a bit in the championship game, it has seemed to get a little complacent down the stretch as teams have planned their attacks to get down field. The first match-up with New York was a high scoring affair, with both teams defenses letting the opposing quarterback get the best of them.

The Giants have stepped up in the post season in the turnover department, a key factor in trying to take down the goliaths that are the Patriots. If they can do what San Diego did to Brady as far as interceptions, they Pats might have their work cut out for them.

As with any game, criticism can be delivered and sides can be chosen. A lot of attention is going to be put on the coaches, the quarterbacks, their teammates, families, friends, fans, dogs, cats, etc. over the next couple of weeks. The Super Bowl brings millions of dollars to the economy of wherever it is being held, and Glendale is sure to see a media frenzy as we ramp up to the big day.

With all there is to talk about, whether it be if the Patriots will have a high resolution space camera to assist their offensive decision making, or if Tiki Barber is going to sign a one game contract with his old team in the hopes of playing in the game he never though his coach could take him to, it's a sure bet that many will overlook the planning and hard work that the world-renowned architect Peter Eisenman, in conjunction with HOK Sport, Hunt Construction Group and Urban Earth Design, put into creating University of Phoenix Stadium.

Hopefully their work will attract the eyeballs of the millions and millions of people all over the world and that the players themselves will appreciate the fact that they get paid a lot of money to play a game in a stadium that they're fans toiled away to build for them. Let's all crack open a cold one in a few sundays and toast those who made it happen.

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