The affair inside the New Meadowlands Stadium yesterday was not so much a press conference as it was a touchdown celebration with the Giants, Jets and New York and New Jersey governors taking turns dancing in the end zone —their end zone.
The chest-thumping get together took place some 19 hours after the NFL owners voted the new stadium in as the host of Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.
The guests of honor included Giants owners John Mara and the Tisch family, Giants coach Tom Coughlin, Jets owner Woody Johnson and Jets coach Rex Ryan as well as New York Gov. David Paterson and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
All took turns spiking the proverbial football in celebration of their historic victory.
Johnson went first.
“Well, it worked,” Johnson said with a sigh, referring to the bid. “We have 31/2 years to prepare for an incredible Super Bowl. We’re going to give the fans the ultimate experience.”
Next up was Mara, who apologized for “almost completely losing my voice,” something that likely happened from celebrating.
“This region has a rich and deep connection to football going back to 1925 in the Polo Grounds,” Mara said. “To bring the biggest game here . . . I think it’s about time. We’re going to make it a memorable experience for everybody.”
Steve Tisch, the Giants’ president and CEO, recalled a stadium design meeting he had with Johnson five years ago.
“Woody leaned into me and said, ‘This is going to be the home of a Super Bowl,’” Tisch remembered. “He said, ‘Everyone is going to ask ‘why?’ and our answer will be, ‘why not?’
“We made history (Tuesday in Dallas at the owners meeting) and we’ll continue to make history right through that 2014 Super Bowl Sunday.”
Following the team owners, Paterson worked the room like a banquet speaker, starting his speech off with this quip: “Well, another good fourth-round pick,” referring to the lengthy vote.
Both Paterson and Christie fielded a litany of questions about the potential poor winter weather that could be present, deftly handling them with humor.
Paterson’s argument that the weather won’t take away from the quality of play centered around the point that it’s the “unanticipated moments” that make Super Bowls memorable.
As for potential logistics issues based on poor weather, Christie said, “For all the ‘what ifs’ there will be answers.”
Coughlin was ready for the weather questions.
“One of the fondest days in my memory was 24-below, thank you for asking,” he said, referring to the Giants’ 2008 NFC Championship Game win in frigid Green Bay.
Sending a clear message for the day, Ryan’s right ring finger was almost entirely covered by the Super Bowl ring he won with the Ravens over the Giants in 2000. Asked how often he sports that piece of jewelry in public, he said, “Not very often.”
Ryan admitted that, since the announcement was made, he’s found himself daydreaming about coaching in that game.
“I have to be in this game,” Ryan said. “I would think regardless of who we’re playing, we’re the favorites.”
When the possibility of not being involved in that game in his home stadium was brought up, Ryan cringed.
“Oh, that would be impossible,” he said. “To have your facilities taken over by another AFC team . . . oh my goodness, that would be almost impossible to take.”
Mara conceded that “playing a Super Bowl in your home stadium would be pretty special,” but added, “But I’m not focused on that; I’m focused on this season right now.”
A short time before the press conference began and then after it was over, there was a sound check taking place outside for last night’s Bon Jovi concert — the historic first concert in the new stadium.
For Johnson, who was in the house for the show, and the Maras and Tiches, the concert served as a fitting celebration for their accomplishments.
mark.cannizzarro@nypost.com