Atlanta sports and tourism officials "plan to take aim" at hosting Super Bowl LIII and the '18 College Football Championship Game at the new Falcons stadium, according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Bid processes for both events "are scheduled to begin next year." The CFP organization "plans to send requests for proposals" to host the '18 and '19 title games to interested cities in February, with the site selections "scheduled for next fall." The NFL "plans to kick off the competition" to host the '19 and '20 Super Bowls "in May by inviting a limited number of cities to make formal bids, with the new Falcons stadium expected to ensure Atlanta a spot on the short list." The city's focus on the two games comes after the new stadium landed the '20 Final Four last week. Falcons Owner Arthur Blank "has long made it known he wants" the '19 Super Bowl in the new stadium, which is slated to open in '17. The NFL "requires a stadium to be open for two regular seasons before it hosts a Super Bowl." The '19 Super Bowl would "seem the better fit for Atlanta since the city has the Final Four" in '20. But Falcons President & CEO Rich McKay said that bidders "shouldn’t be picky." Atlanta "will have an edge as apparently the only city in the next round of Super Bowl bidding with a new stadium." But South Florida, "boosted by a planned major renovation" of Sun Life Stadium, is "expected to be a strong challenger" for the '19 event. Potential competitors for the College Football Championship Game "include New Orleans, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, South Florida and Santa Clara" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 11/22).
