Experts believe the bid to host Super Bowl LII "will ultimately boil down to New Orleans and Indianapolis," with the Mercedes-Benz Superdome being the "favorite to win," according to Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Even though Minneapolis has a "spectacular new stadium in its bid arsenal, most believe they are a year away from serious contention." New Orleans' "slick multi-media presentation would make Hollywood South proud," as former NFLer Archie Manning and singer Harry Connick Jr. are "featured in the pitch." The bid proposals were "customized for each NFL owner and housed in beautiful cypress boxes crafted by Harahan cabinetmaker David Perrier." New Orleans' presentation features the theme, "N.O. Better Time: A Story 300 Years in the Making" (NOLA.com, 5/17). In New Orleans, Larry Holder noted New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Steve Perry and Entergy Chief Administrative Officer Rod West "will represent" the city during the 15-minute presentation. The plan also includes Saints Owner Tom Benson delivering a "five-minute pitch to his peers." The presentation will include "a heavy emphasis on the NFL kicking off the city's tricentennial celebration" (NOLA.com, 5/19). THE MMQB's Peter King writes his "vote is for New Orleans." This "could very well be" Benson's "last time appealing for a Super Bowl," and team owners are usually "empathetic toward one of their veterans making a case for the Super Bowl." It also will be New Orleans' 300th birthday in '18, and the NFL in '05 "went to great lengths to support and protect" the city following Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans also has "one of the best Super Bowl perks in memory" planned for its presentation, as the city plans to "build a multi-million-dollar Heads Up Football complex adjacent to the Saints’ training complex" if New Orleans secures the Super Bowl (MMQB.SI.com, 5/20).
IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME? In Minneapolis, Rochelle Olson wrote of the Vikings' new stadium, "Often described by the Vikings as built for a Super Bowl, the facility is the critical card in Minnesota’s hand." NFL owners "eyeing new stadiums are keenly aware of the public subsidy and the years of Sisyphean lobbying by the team to get it." But of the first 51 Super Bowls, "only five were played in northern cities" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/19). Olson notes U.S. Bancorp CEO Richard Davis and Carlson Cos. BOD Chair Marilyn Carlson Nelson "are the only two speakers per NFL rules" for the Minneapolis bid, but they are "bringing in star power reinforcement in the effort." The city's multimedia presentation will "feature video" of U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and former Vikings coach Bud Grant. Davis said, "We're very casual. We're making this a story instead of a presentation." NFL team owners "know plenty about the team’s years of lobbying for the stadium." When a community "foots part of the bill for a new stadium, it’s a strong sign of support and something that hits owners where it matters: their pocketbooks." New stadiums "funnel more money into the league and the owners’ bank accounts." New stadiums "have drawn the big game" in recent years, including N.Y./N.J., Dallas and S.F. (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/20). But ESPN.com's Ben Goessling noted it is "not unprecedented for the league to ask cities with a new building to wait a year" (ESPN.com, 5/19).
BACK HOME AGAIN IN INDIANA: In Indianapolis, Holder & Tuohy note an expanded Super Bowl Village, $30M in private investments and a pitch by former NFLer Jeff Saturday are "among the enticements" city officials will "dangle before NFL owners" when they make their presentation. Saturday and Indiana Sports Corp. President Allison Melangton will "make the 15-minute presentation," but Colts Owner Jim Irsay also is "expected to speak separately." Irsay's daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, said, "I think it never hurts to have the principal owner present. The owners kind of help it along, but really it's the bid committee." Also in Atlanta is Irsay-Gordon's sister, Kalen Irsay. The Irsay daughters have "lived the vast majority of their lives in Indiana, making this bid intensely personal." But Melangton and Saturday will have the "primary roles." Saturday said that he will "remind the owners of the impressive job the city did" hosting Super Bowl XLVI (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/20). Irsay said that he will "emphasize to fellow owners" that the city has already raised $31M in corporate donations to run the game (IBJ.com, 5/19).
ACCORDING TO JIM: In Indianapolis, Stephen Holder notes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who eventually will "have to decide any potential punishment for Irsay" following his DUI arrest, is "in attendance and Irsay expects to speak with him." But Irsay does "not expect their conversations to deal with his arrest or any related issues." Irsay: "I'll talk to him but it's not something we're going to be discussing beyond us talking about my committee responsibilities and the effort to get the Super Bowl" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/20). ESPN.com's Mike Wells noted Irsay yesterday "made his first public comments" since being arrested in March. He "looked fragile prior to entering rehab," but appeared "stronger Monday and at times got caught up in the emotion of being back around the team" (ESPN.com, 5/19). In Boston, Ben Volin writes Irsay "might also want to use the floor to apologize to his fellow owners" and to Goodell for "putting him in a tough spot." That Irsay is "even allowed to attend the meeting is surprising, given the ugly details of his arrest." Goodell has "earned a reputation as the 'Law & Order' commissioner with stiff penalties instituted on his watch for player arrests and off-field incidents." But he "seems to be making a clear statement by allowing Irsay to attend the spring meetings and participate in league business: NFL ownership has its privileges." If Goodell wants to "maintain his credibility with the players, he needs to come down hard on Irsay eventually" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/20). NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said, "Irsay made sure to say how grateful he was to be back in the mix for the Colts and make no mistake, he is back in the mix." Irsay "was in the draft room last week," and has "been having regular conversations" with GM Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 5/19).
AIN'T THAT A PEACH: In Atlanta, Tim Tucker notes the Falcons yesterday held a "glitzy groundbreaking ceremony for their new downtown stadium," and Owner Arthur Blank used the occasion to "lobby for a Super Bowl." Blank said, "2019 is our hope. That’s our aspiration, and we’ll see where that takes us, but that’s our hope.” Tucker notes a plane "circled the ceremony, pulling a banner that read: 'Break Ground on Super Bowl Too.'” Blank: "We’re in queue. There will be other cities and stadiums in queue as well. It’ll be very competitive" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/20).
