Cold is not nearly as much a factor are heat and humidity.
It’s pretty easy to prepare for the cold, but very difficult, if not impossible to prepare for the heat and extreme humidity.
I don’t buy the idea that the Bills “failed” to prepare. One can only do so much vis ‘a vis hydration in the days, hours and even
during a game.
The Fins have four distant advantages....
1. They train in the swamp of FL for two months.
2. Their sideline is in the shade which mitigates the full effect in an exponential way.
3. The opposition sideline is in the direct sun for the full (daytime) game.
4. If Miami decides not to use fans, the Bills could not either (
hat tip to Turf).
Here in Las Vegas, the locals understand the power of direct sunlight....especially as opposed to the shade. We do not have the humidity factor (which is why I choose to live here) but the EXTREME danger in just standing in the sun on a hot day (as compared to the shade) is almost unimaginable.
If you stand in the direct sun too long (and it’s shorter than you can conceive) your skin will tingle and you can feel it burn. Heat stroke is a very real issue.
Direct sun sucks the liquid from your body. High humidity prevents the body from cooling itself.
I have experienced dehydration from simply standing in the direct sun (in NYC’s Central Park when the temps were in the high 70’s for a group seminar event where I was instructing several groups of 20 to 30 attendees, in seven different sessions for 20-25 minutes for each session). I happened to be in an open, unshaded area (on purpose....this was a photographic lighting seminar and my sessions were about shooting portraits in direct sun)
During the third session I got dizzy and almost passed out. By that time drinking more and more water would have no effect (and I DID drink water before I started). And it didn’t. I did not start feeling better until I got out of the sun and into an air conditioned dark hotel room.
When players have to get an IV, there is a health danger present. It’s not just about this game.
Most of the stadiums in high temp and sunny areas have domes, or a structure to produce shade. Miami literally has sub-tropical climate that is known for oppressive sun, heat and, especially humidity. Tampa and Jacksonville are not even close to the oppressiveness of Miami.
Other NFL cities with this combination are Houston and New Orleans. Both have domes. I have been to every NFL city (except Green Bay) and Miami, Houston and New Orleans are unique in their climate. And it’s why I HATE all of those cities with a passion. It’s always hot and steamy there to the extent that I get sick every time I visit (as I was forced to because of my job as national sales manager).
Miami, in their recent renovations
purposely gave the home team one of the biggest home field advantages in the NFL by ensuring that the home team sideline is ALWAYS in the shade and the opposing team’s sideline is ALAWYS in direct sun with the structure they built around the top of the stadium.
This is an unfair advantage that smack of unsportsmanship because it presents a very real health danger to one team and not the home team.