Lose one (really, seven) for the Gipper

Going way back to November 17, 1986, to the 4th-and-17 conversion against the Vikings. The Giants were great that year but this play stands out as one that spurred them to their first Super Bowl win.

https://www.giants.com/video/relive-the-play-4th-17-5135836

It was a massive mistake to not put a retractable roof on MetLife. As I recall, the roof would have added $200 million to the $1.6 billion cost. Given the likely added revenue from a year-round facility, that’s a relative pittance.

From what I understand, Wellington Mara didn’t want the roof because, to him, football was meant to be played in the elements. He died in 2005 and the stadium opened in 2010, so this might be apocryphal but I recall hearing that.

Whatever the reason, the open-air venue still seems a big mistake, if only for the fans. The stadium lacks any charm and feels sterile to me. But more egregious is the lack of covered seating. At the very least there should be cantilevered overhangs like a European soccer stadium.