Indianapolis officials plan to "use a downtown light show and $30 million in pre-raised corporate cash to wow the NFL’s team owners into granting" the city the title of Super Bowl host "for the second time in six years," according to Anthony Schoettle of the INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. Local bid officials also "hoped to announce a new downtown hotel to be built before the 2018 game, but time might be running out on that effort." Indianapolis’ odds are "clouded by the uncertainty" over whether Colts Owner Jim Irsay will "attend the May 19-21 owners’ meetings in Atlanta, where the vote will take place." Colts COO Pete Ward said that Carlie Irsay-Gordon, who is leading the franchise in her father's absence, was "involved in the bid process before her father’s arrest and 'most likely' will continue to be whether or not he attends the meeting." Indianapolis’ bid committee will hold a press conference tomorrow, but "with so many of the bid particulars kept secret, it’s unclear what will be discussed." Indianapolis "isn’t the only city pulling out all the stops," as Minneapolis is "delivering its bid on iPads -- donated by Minnesota-based Best Buy, and New Orleans officials are expected to showcase elements of their 2018 tricentennial celebration in their bid" (INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/3 issue).
SECRET'S SAFE WITH ME: In Minneapolis, Rochelle Olson notes for an event "billed as a community pitch, the Twin Cities' Super Bowl 2018 bid is looking more like a state secret." Not only will officials "not talk about how much money they have to raise," but they "won't reveal who'll give the presentation" to the NFL owners in Atlanta. Whether the details of the bid "will ever become public remains unclear" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/6).
