Orlando officials are now mulling "whether to respond" to an RFP to host the CFP National Championship after a $207M Citrus Bowl reclamation project "turned what was once an aging stadium into a viable venue that's already raised the excitement level of the community," according to Matt Murschel of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. With Orlando City SC's MLS debut "looming, it's easy to be optimistic about the stadium's future." Orlando "was one of more than close to a dozen cities" that received an RFP for the '18, '19 and '20 CFP title games, joining Miami and Jacksonville. The decision to respond to the RFP "falls on local leaders." Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan said, "We obviously would need some strong direction from elected leadership and tourism. I don't think there is any doubt that Orlando has a fantastic relationship with the College Football Playoff." Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said that local leaders are "assessing the bid." With the CFP title game "moving around the country regionally each year, Dyer grasps the fact that Orlando may only get the game once every 10 years." Meanwhile, Miami officials "must decide if they will submit a bid" for the '18 and '20 games. Jacksonville also is "interested in the idea of hosting." The deadline to submit bids is May 27 and a "final decision on which sites will host the games will be made in October" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/22).
YARD MARKER: In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette wrote a "major reason why the Jacksonville Sports Council is excited" about Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan’s proposal to develop the Shipyards is that the city’s bid to host the CFP Championship "would get a major boost." Once the Jaguars last Tuesday "made their Shipyards video presentation," JSC President & CEO Rick Catlett "sent off a copy" to CFP COO Michael Kelly. JSC COO Alan Verlander said of the Shipyards project, "It will be a huge part of our bid if that happens. This could change the entire game for (Jacksonville) neutral-site football games" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/22).
