The NFL Thursday selected Glendale, Ariz., and Tampa as finalists to host Super Bowl XLIX in '15, according to Rebekah Sanders of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Final bids "must be submitted by Aug. 1, with an NFL decision in October." Arizona has hosted two Super Bowls, most recently in '08, while Tampa has hosted four, most recently in '09. The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee "lost bids for the 2012 and 2013 Super Bowls," but committee Chair Mike Kennedy said, "Our chances are better than they've ever been." Sanders notes the NFL "has changed the bid process." Rather than "allowing any city to submit bids, the league will now select two locations to compete each year." In previous years, the bidding "was more open," but now the NFL "will choose two similar sites, such as two warm-weather cities or two new-stadium cities" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/29). Tampa officials said that "they believe they've got a good shot at landing Super Bowl XLIX." A vote on the host city is "expected this fall at a league meeting." Paul Catoe, CEO of Tampa Bay & Co., Hillsborough County's convention and visitors bureau, said that so far the area "has merely expressed an interest in bidding and, significantly, picked up support" from the Buccaneers (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 4/29).
