There is "already talk about whether the NFL and Phoenix would pair up again" to host the Super Bowl in the future, according to McKinnon & Wang of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Organizers have been "talking about the success of events over the past week," including the NFL Experience, which "drew more than 165,000 fans." Arizona Host Committee Chair David Rousseau, who "helped oversee three years of planning and fund-raising, wouldn't commit to anything for the future." But he said, "2020 has a nice ring to it" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/2). An ARIZONA REPUBLIC editorial states Super Bowl XLIX "clearly stands out." It is "no small feat to make one of the nation's most complex entertainment events an all-round pleasant experience for fans, but the Arizona organizers appear to have done a superb job of it." The editorial: "Congratulations to the leaders of Arizona's Host Committee for a job exceedingly well done. ... That was fun. Let's do it again soon" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/3). Meanwhile, in Phoenix, Dustin Gardiner reports the Host Committee yesterday announced that the giant rock-climbing wall featured at the "Grand Canyon Experience" as part of Verizon Super Bowl Central will be donated to the city of Phoenix "for its residents to use." The attraction was the "wow factor" for the 12-block area, but rain "kept the wall closed for much of the five-day street party." Phoenix Parks & Recreation Department Public Information Officer Gregg Bach said that it is "unclear where the 30-by-100 foot fiberglass wall will be placed and when residents can use it," which "could take several months to determine" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/3).
BAY AREA ON THE CLOCK: In S.F., C.W. Nevius writes now that the one-year countdown for Super Bowl 50 "has begun, it feels like a reality, which raises several questions." Nevius asks, "Are we ready to host such a major event?" However, the chances that Super Bowl 50 "isn’t a huge success are essentially zero." The game is a "global phenomenon, the hype is epic," and S.F. and the Bay Area "know how to put on a major event." Even if it "isn’t a great game, the important people -- corporate sponsors, wealthy hipsters and TV moguls -- love going to a cool city for the game." That is why residents "can expect it to be back in town every five years or so" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/3). Also in S.F., Ron Leuty noted Super Bowl 50 "could be dubbed the Tech Super Bowl." The "roster of sponsors" includes Google, Yahoo, data-storage company Seagate Technology, software developer SAP SE and semiconductor manufacturer Intel. S.F. Bay Area Host Committee President & CEO Keith Bruce said that the region's "connectivity -- from finding relevant Super Bowl activities in the week leading up to the game to more 'social moments' -- should score a touchdown" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/2).
