A wicked snowstorm headed for New England on Monday night might prevent the New England Patriots from getting back to Boston after the Super Bowl, possibly delaying any sort of victory parade/walk of shame on Tuesday.
But neither team nor city officials are willing to talk about contingency plans — for practical, and possibly superstitious, reasons.
"Our focus is on game preparations," the Patriots' vice president of media relations, Stacey James, told NBC News Sunday when asked when the team was scheduled to travel back from Arizona to Boston, and what they would do if the predicted foot of snow delayed their flight. "After the game, we can address logistical questions," James said.
The city of Boston wasn't willing to talk parade details either. "We don't have a plan right now," Boston's chief communications officer, Laura Oggeri, told NBC News. "Let's see how the game goes tonight."
Oggeri wouldn't comment on why Boston wouldn't divulge as much as a route or time for a possible parade, but many Pats fans are known to have superstitions surrounding Super Bowl speculations.
When the Patriots were up against the New York Giants in 2008, Boston's then-mayor Thomas M. Menino told the Boston Globe he didn't "want to jinx anybody" by talking about a possible celebration, but he did reveal to the Globe where a possible parade would begin and end. The Patriots lost to the Giants 14 to 17 that year.
The current mayor, Marty Walsh, isn't taking any chances this time around by making predictions. Walsh even turned down the chance at a friendly wager.
"Following two unsuccessful sports bets with other mayors, Mayor Walsh — a lifelong Patriots fan and season ticket holder — is foregoing a bet with Seattle for this year’s Super Bowl because he does not want to jinx his beloved Patriots," the Mayor's office said in a statement Friday.
The mayor is, however, willing to plan for a safe night for fans traveling throughout Boston before and during the game, after two feet of snow socked the city earlier in the week.
"Boston Police will be restricting access to several locations in the city both due to the Super Bowl and recent blizzard," the mayor's office said in a statement. The statement warned fans to travel early, use public transportation and never drink and drive.
Meanwhile, jurors in the murder trial of former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez can enjoy the game without worrying about being in court early Monday morning, although they have been warned to leave the room if the once-Patriots star is mentioned during the game. The trial, which only began Thursday after a two-day snow delay, is postponed again until Tuesday because of Monday's anticipated storm.
IN-DEPTH
- Super Bowl Snowday: Vast Swath of U.S. Braces for Storm
- Round Two: Are You Ready for More Snow?
- How the NWS Cost the East Coast Millions
- New Snowstorm to Hit New England Still in Cleanup Mode
