The Super Bowl (XXXIV) that froze Atlanta

Atlanta Falcons

The Super Bowl (XXXIV) that froze Atlanta

In January 2000, two frigid cold snaps besieged Metro Atlanta during the last Super Bowl to be played in the city. The ice storm and the chaos that it brought are the more memorable than the game.

Super Bowl XXXIV should be memorable for this play. Ten yards short of the endzone, and with 6 seconds left on the clock, Tennessee Titans wide receiver catches a short pass and dives for a game-tying score, but falls shy on a tackle by St. Louis Rams linebacker Mike Jones. The Rams went on to win 23-16 at the Georgia Dome on that Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000 - the last time Atlanta hosted a Super Bowl.

The St. Louis Rams entered their second Super Bowl in team history with an NFC-best 13–3 regular season record. It was the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 1989. The Tennessee Titans also finished with a 13–3 season record, and were the AFC wild-card team.

Instead, Super Bowl XXXIV is most remembered for the ice storm that hit Atlanta Friday before Super Bowl Sunday and shut down parts of the city. It was the second of two chilling storms that struck that week in 2000. A sheet of ice coated major roads throughout the region, causing massive pile-ups including a 47-car wreck on I-20 west of Atlanta. The rain continued for much of the day Saturday as temperatures hovered near the freezing mark, forming a quarter-inch thick coating of ice on most surfaces.

The wintry chill caught many by surprise. Bundled against the cold, NFL transportation crew member Chris VanKirk borrowed his cold-weather gear, having arrived from Miami in shorts and a windbreaker.

Atlantan George Hemans celebrated winning a Super Bowl ticket after swimming the length of the frozen fountain at Underground in his street clothes days before the event. Ten tickets were awarded to fans who were willing to do something outrageous.

While the cold did not affect the game, many nearby events and vendors suffered as normal Super Bowl activities were curtailed by the frigid temps.

James Calloway throws salt on the walkway in front the Georgia Dome. Despite the rare adverse weather conditions, city and state crews kept streets and sidewalks free of ice, and MARTA public transport kept running.

Depsite the icy chill, crowds made their to the Georgia Dome for kickoff on Jan. 30, 20000.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson kneels on the field after the final play of the Super Bowl against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000, in Atlanta. Dyson caught a pass on the play, but was stopped short of the end zone, and the Rams won 23-16.

St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, who was named the game's most valuable player, threw for more than 400 yards and two scores as the Rams held off the Titans for the 23-16 win at the Georgia Dome.

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Super Bowl XXXIV should be memorable for this play. Ten yards short of the endzone, and with 6 seconds left on the clock, Tennessee Titans wide receiver catches a short pass and dives for a game-tying score, but falls shy on a tackle by St. Louis Rams linebacker Mike Jones. The Rams went on to win 23-16 at the Georgia Dome on that Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000 - the last time Atlanta hosted a Super Bowl.

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