Detroit's Super Bowl bid team, headed by ISC Vice Chair
Roger Penske, told the NFL yesterday that it "was clearing
up potential deficiencies in its quest to host" the 2006
Super Bowl, according to Daniel Fricker of the DETROIT FREE
PRESS. The bid team said that it has signed commitments for
nearly 90% of the 17,500 full-service hotel rooms required
by the NFL. The bid team also told NFL execs that Ford
Field, scheduled to open in 2002, "could be temporarily
expanded" for a Super Bowl to accommodate 70,000 fans and
3,000 media members. After the meeting, the NFL's "view" of
Detroit's bid had "brightened, although questions
persisted." Bills Owner Ralph Wilson: "I think they have a
very good chance" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/28). Also in
Detroit, Darren Nichols writes that the city's proposal
"must be approved" by all 31 NFL owners at their league
meeting November 1 in Atlanta (DETROIT NEWS, 9/28).
JACKSONVILLE'S QUEST FOR '05 SUPER BOWL: In FL, Steve
Patterson wrote that with a "promise" that Jacksonville
taxpayers "won't pay for expensive stadium renovations," the
City Council has endorsed the city's bid to host the Super
Bowl in 2005. Meanwhile, NFL VP/Communications Greg Aiello
said that an offer from Atlanta to host the event "has been
withdrawn." The other suitors for the 2005 game are Miami
and Oakland (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 9/28).
