City officials and the Indianapolis Colts have joined forces in pursuit of a singular goal: bringing the NFL's 2011 Super Bowl to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Although the quest still is in the preliminary stages, Colts owner Jim Irsay said it is a high priority for everyone involved.
"We're centering in on 2011 and beginning to look at putting a bid package together,'' he said. "That's exciting. That's something I really want to get accomplished.''
The first opportunity for the city to submit a formal proposal would be at the NFL owners meetings March 25-28, 2007, in Phoenix.
Sites for the next four Super Bowls already have been determined, beginning with Super Bowl XLI, which is Feb. 4, 2007, in Miami. The first available Super Bowl is in 2011.
Several cites already have expressed interest in securing what will be Super Bowl XLV, including Indianapolis and Dallas, both of which are building new stadiums for their pro teams. Lucas Oil Stadium will be completed for the 2008 season. The Cowboys' new facility, in Arlington, is scheduled to open in 2009.
"We've had numerous cities express preliminary interest,'' said Brian McCarthy, the NFL's director of corporate communications. "The best way to describe it is it will be highly competitive.''
The economic impact for a city hosting a Super Bowl has been estimated at approximately $300 million. That's about the same as has been estimated for the Indianapolis 500, and dwarfs the $40 million boost Indy claimed from last spring's NCAA men's Final Four.
I suppose it makes for a nice diversion just as you begin talking about something average Hoosiers would rather not hear about right now. But I'm not fooled. Are you?
5 comments:
My God Gary lighten up.
This discussion has been ongoing, informally, for over three years.
The bid packages that must be put together, are voluminous and detailed. It will take months to put it together after all the components are in place, and thousands of volunteer hours and the staff at Indiana Sports Corp.
The bid proposals aren't taking place for another 6 months. Yes, it's no secret that the prospects of a Super Bowl in Indy are much better with a new stadium; that was part of the original discussion over whether to construct it. I think the timing of this story with the push for using tax revenues earmarked for construction debt for operating expenses is no accident.
The working group on the bid has been getting together for over a year.
Believe it or not, there are events which occur apart from all our busy schedules, and apart from any political agendas.
Every statement made by a politician should be examined. The usual intent is to distract the populace with "bright and shiny objects."
By the way, those economic impact numbers are bogus. Those numbers are inflated and do not include the costs of putting on such a large event, etc. But some people will make money, there is no doubt about that.
OK...cut the economic impact figures bby 25% if you want. It's still a huge impact.
And by most objective measures, a dollar spent at a convention or sporting event rolls over at least three times. Oftne, it's more than that.
Besides, more and more people come here for conventions and Super Bowls and NCAA Final Fours, and they get to see our great city and experience our friendly residents.
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