Indianapolis To Bid To Host '18 Super Bowl After Positive Financial Impact This Year

Officials from the state of Indiana and city of Indianapolis yesterday announced that the city “will bid to host the 2018 Super Bowl,” according to Jay Hermacinski of WLFI.com. After hosting this year’s Super Bowl XLVI, the city “is ready to go for it again.” Colts Owner Jim Irsay said Indianapolis “unquestionably proved" its ability to successfully host a Super Bowl. NFL team owners will decide the '18 Super Bowl's location “in May 2014” (WLFI.com, 7/18). Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said that officials were “delighted by the game's financial performance, which included nearly $152 million in direct economic impact and the positive national exposure it brought to the city.” He added that an analysis found that "about 84 cents of every dollar spent for Super Bowl stayed in Indianapolis.” Host Committee Chair Mark Miles said that the committee had about $1.8M "in corporate donations for this year's game left over to use in the city's bid" for the '18 game. Miles said that organizers and city officials decided that ‘18 was the “earliest Super Bowl the city could offer a bid for because the city is committed to hosting Final Fours in 2015 and 2016 and is pursuing U.S. Olympic trials in 2016” (AP, 7/18).

SITTING THIS ONE OUT: Indiana Sports Corporation President Susan Williams yesterday said it is "highly unlikely" the city will make a bid for the college football championship game, which beginning in '14 will be awarded to the highest bidder. Williams added that the Sports Corporation’s “plate is full for the next several years” (INDYSTAR.com, 7/18). ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg wrote Lucas Oil Stadium had been viewed “as a strong candidate to be part of the rotation to host college football’s national title game.” While Indianapolis “could be in the mix down the road, this is disappointing news for Big Ten fans hoping to have the national title game closer to home” (ESPN.com, 7/18).