Overview
- The Empire State Building’s official account posted a photo showing the tower in Patriots colors with the caption, “Santa Clara bound! Shining in @Patriots colors in honor of their AFC Championship win.”
- New England advanced to the Super Bowl by defeating the top-seeded Broncos, with quarterback Drake Maye sealing the result on a late scramble for a first down.
- Giants and other New York–area fans flooded replies with mockery and anger at the display for a Boston-area team.
- Some commenters called on the New York City mayor to end out-of-town sports tributes at the landmark, citing the long-standing New York–Boston rivalry.
- The lights were later changed to green and blue to mark the Seahawks’ NFC title, and coverage noted the building’s broader practice of commemorative sports-themed lighting.