As the home of two NFL teams, MetLife Stadium is used to having different looks at different times whether the Jets or Giants are in residence.
That includes changing lighting and signage around the facility to reflect the current home team and it usually involves painting the end zones in the appropriate colors as well. That won’t be the case this weekend, however.
The Jets host the Dolphins on Saturday night and the Giants host the Lions on Sunday, which won’t leave enough time for workers to get the end zones in order. As a result, they’ll go with nine slash marks in both end zones in a neutral configuration that works for all involved.
“We are always prepared to host two consecutive football games, whether college or NFL,” MetLife Stadium president and CEO Ron VanDeVeen said, via the Associated Press. “However, due to the timing of Saturday’s 8:25 p.m. New York Jets game followed by Sunday’s 1 p.m. New York Giants game, coupled with the current weather forecast, the decision was made to use neutral end zones for this weekend’s contests. This decision will allow for appropriate maintenance of the playing surface throughout the weekend.”
The change in appearance shouldn’t have any impact on the results, but may cause a viewer or two to double-check where the games are being played.