The triumphant New England Patriots were on their way back to Boston on Monday afternoon, despite a snowstorm that was expected to drop 8 inches on the city. Mayor Marty Walsh held out as long as he could before postponing a victory parade for the Super Bowl champions from Tuesday to Wednesday at the earliest.
Parts of the 2-mile route, from Prudential Tower to City Hall, were still waist-deep in snow late Monday when the mayor's office decided to change plans.
"Due to today's bad weather and the worsening forecast for tonight, the New England Patriots and the City of Boston have made the mutual decision to postpone the victory parade until Wednesday, February 4 at 11 a.m.," Walsh said Monday evening, "We thank everyone for their flexibility and patience during the planning of this parade and we look forward to celebrating with Patriots fans during better weather on Wednesday."
The team was expected to arrive at Logan Airport at 6:45 p.m. ET Monday and didn't expect delays, the Patriots' vice president of media relations, Stacey James, told NBC News. More than 600 flights into the Boston hub have been canceled Monday.
Walsh said Sunday night that the Patriots had made New England "very proud," adding, "cue the duck boats" — a reference to the Boston tradition of sending its players up the Charles River to cheer them after a championship. Walsh spent Monday morning in meetings working out the details of a celebration as the storm hit the city, which got 2 feet during a blizzard last week.
Walsh divulged Monday that he had crews plowing the potential route before the big win. "We were quietly over the weekend removing snow from Boylston Street and a few places around the city of Boston,” Walsh told NBC station WHDH. "Quietly. We didn't want to jinx anybody."
IN-DEPTH
- Groundhog Day: Record Midwest Snow Messes Commute for Northeast
- Jinx? Patriots and Boston Won't Discuss Snowy Return Home
SOCIAL
— Elisha Fieldstadt and Tracy Jarrett
