The New York Giants will play the first NFL game at their new $1.6 billion Meadowlands stadium after winning a secret coin toss against the New York Jets - who will play just a day later.
Giants will open new Meadowlands Stadium, Jets play on Monday
The New York Giants will play the first NFL game at their new $1.6 billion Meadowlands stadium after winning a secret coin toss against the New York Jets - who will play just a day later.
Both Big Apple teams could not agree on who should open their new stadium next season, so the NFL held a secret coin toss and the Giants won - they will now kick-off the season on Sunday September 12.
The Jets though, who share the new stadium, will also play at home on opening weekend with them hosting the first televised Monday night game on September 13.
Both teams split the cost of the new stadium, which is just a few hundred yards away from the old Giants Stadium the pair shared for 26 seasons, although the Jets always felt like lodgers in that building.
Jets owner Woody Johnson was not pleased with the decision, or the manner in which it was decided.
Coin toss
"An NFL coin toss has a few fundamental elements that are missing here, most notably the presence of the teams involved," Johnson said in a statement. "That's how it's always done in the league, whether it's determining the order of the draft or deciding who's going to kick off the game.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, however, believes that both teams playing on opening weekend is a unique way to open the new stadium.
"After extensive discussions with both teams, we have come up with what we believe is a unique approach for celebrating the opening of the new Meadowlands Stadium," Goodell said.
The Giants, who were pleased with the decision, also made a move in free agency as back-up quarterback
Jim Sorgi swapped playing behind Peyton Manning for playing behind younger brother Eli.
Sorgi has spent six years at the Indianapolis Colts backing up the great Peyton Manning, and will now do the same for Eli after signing a one-year deal with Big Blue.
"Both are elite players," said Sorgi. "I had a great time working with Peyton, and I learned a lot, obviously. The experience was invaluable as far as my development as a professional."
