Santa Clara Gets Additional Demands From NFL While Seeking Super Bowl Bid

Santa Clara officials last week "began weighing whether the city can still make money from a Super Bowl and related events after stomaching a new list of financial demands from the NFL -- including giving up huge chunks of tax revenue," according to Mike Rosenberg of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. The 49ers' new Silicon Valley stadium remains a "finalist to host either the 50th or 51st Super Bowl in 2016 or 2017," and before local leaders can submit a bid in May to host the game, the NFL is "requiring the Santa Clara City Council to formally adopt a resolution of support for the Super Bowl." The exact terms of the deal still are "being discussed in closed session, beginning with a meeting held Tuesday, and could be finalized before the end of the month." City Attorney Ren Nosky said that the NFL essentially "wants to lease the $1.2 billion Santa Clara stadium and the surrounding area ... for Super Bowl week at a much cheaper rate than normal." The league also "wants other concessions, including possible tax breaks or a portion of the tax revenues received from hotels or other venues during the events." Additionally, NFL Senior VP/PR Greg Aiello said that the league "requires host cities to forego sales tax charges on Super Bowl game tickets, which are typically very pricey." Other host cities have "exempted the NFL and its employees from taxes on visits and sales during the Super Bowl" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/12).

MILE HIGH WISHES: In Denver, Mike Klis reported the Broncos and city officials "continue to work toward their bid to host the Super Bowl." They are "in the process of bidding to host the Super Bowl in 2018, 2019 or 2020." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell before Saturday's Ravens-Broncos game said, "My personal view is, the game of football is to be played in the elements. There are people who like to see the Super Bowl played in absolutely pristine conditions, where everything is the same and there's no weather elements at all. I just don't think that's football." The league will "test the concept" of having a Super Bowl in a cold-weather stadium next year when the game is played at MetLife Stadium in N.Y. Goodell said of holding the Super Bowl in N.Y.: "It was a great opportunity to look at 'Will this work?' Is this something that can have a real positive change for the NFL? We'll see" (DENVER POST, 1/12).