Finalists To Host Super Bowls In '19, '20 Will Be Decided At May Owners Meetings

The Dolphins and South Florida will "make a strong push for the chance to host" the '19 and '20 Super Bowls before the finalists are announced in May, and local organizers are confident the upgrades to Sun Life Stadium "will enable them to reverse the trend of recent failed bids," according to Craig Davis of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. South Florida Super Bowl Bid Committee Chair Rodney Barreto said, "That has been our only issue that's held us back. We were told by the NFL the problem with the 50th anniversary (bid) was our stadium." Davis noted South Florida has hosted 10 Super Bowls, but "an increasing number of cities vying for the prestige and economic benefits" of hosting has "created a highly competitive landscape." While the Sun Life Stadium renovations "will provide the fan comforts and amenities that are considered necessities in the hosting sweepstakes," landing either of the two Super Bowls "isn't a given." But the Dolphins have "already met a new NFL requirement of perspective Super Bowl hosts in agreeing to have one of their home games played in London next season." Meanwhile, Falcons Owner Arthur Blank "has his sights set" on hosting the '19 game in the team's new stadium, and NFL owners have "shown an inclination to reward cities that build new facilities." Owners also are "in favor of projects that involve a sizable outlay of public funding" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/14). In Dallas, Jeff Mosier noted whether the Cowboys "will be invited to bid on an upcoming Super Bowl will also be decided this year." Team officials and their stadium events committee "will need to coordinate college and NFL championship bids because of the overlap" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/14).