College Football Playoff COO Michael Kelly on Tuesday said that bids to host future college football national championship games "will go out to interested cities early next year," with RFPs going out "either in late January or early February" to prospective cities who have shown interest in possibly hosing the title game, according to Matt Murschel of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Kelly added that a decision "would most likely come sometime in late September." CFP officials "are looking to lock up the next three years -- 2018, 2019 and 2020 -- under this new round of bidding." Kelly: "We’ve been in communication with the cities to let them know about that. We’ll send the bid applications who have sought it out so far." Murschel reports cities that receive RFPs "will have until the end of May to draft a written response" (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 12/30). Kelly: "We've heard from everyone who bid the last time. They seem to still be interested in trying to apply so we anticipate South Florida, Orlando, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Santa Clara. All of them bid the last time, and if there are others, we'll send it to them" (ESPN.com, 12/30).
BEACH BALL? In Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis writes that despite the "upcoming major overhaul of of Sun Life Stadium, there is no guarantee when or if the region" will get the opportunity to host a CFP game. A local effort, "spearheaded by the Orange Bowl Committee, will attempt to snag one of the next three championship games up for grabs" in early '15. They "will be banking on the allure of the region and the stadium upgrades being funded" by Dolphins Owner Steve Ross "to stand out in what figures to be a crowded field of suitors." Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Nicki Grossman said, "It's highly competitive, frightfully competitive." Davis writes the new CFP system "pits city against city in a high-stakes round-robin that mirrors the Super Bowl hosting sweepstakes." Orange Bowl Committee CEO Eric Poms said, "We understand it's competitive. There are so many communities that have an interest in these events. I think South Florida is well positioned. We'll compete for college football championships, and hopefully we'll bring it here" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 12/31).
