The Arizona Senate "rejected a bill that would have reimbursed Glendale for its public-safety costs" surrounding Super Bowl XLIX, according to Caitlin McGlade of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The measure would have allotted up to $2M "for the host city of a major event for safety-related expenses." The bill was Glendale's "second attempt to secure funding for Super Bowl-related expenses." Glendale spent $2.2M "on public safety" during the '08 Super Bowl. The Arizona Senate in '07 also "rejected a bill requesting state aid." Officials expect to spend about $2M "on public safety for next year's game" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/23). Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers said that the city will "do what it can, with its own funds, to provide the necessary police protection for the tens of thousands of visitors who will be attending the game." But he added that his council will "refuse to host any more Super Bowls -- or similar major events -- unless the host committee comes up with the necessary cash up front so as not to bankrupt his city." Weiers: "They’re going to have to raise more money to help cover the public safety or the NFL’s going to have to pick up the cost or the state of Arizona’s going to have to come up front. If nobody does that, all [those] tourism dollars [are] going to go to a different state" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 4/23).
