At least 14 cities "are considering whether to bid" for the '18, '19 or '20 CFP championship games, according to sources cited by Brett McMurphy of ESPN.com. Sources said that seven of the 14 "already have decided to bid," including Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, South Florida, Minneapolis and San Antonio. Meanwhile, the AP reported that Santa Clara "also will bid." The deadline to turn in the RFP for the championship games "is late May," when the CFP "will announce which cities bid to host the games." The three championship sites "are expected to be announced in October." Sources said that at least seven cities receiving the RFPs "remain undecided," including Arlington, Houston, Indianapolis, New Jersey/New York, New Orleans, Orlando and Pasadena. An Orange Bowl spokesperson said that South Florida, which will host a '19 semifinal, "will bid" on the '18 and '20 title games. A Sports Minneapolis official said that the city "will bid" on the '19 and '20 title games. McMurphy noted the next two title games "have been awarded" to Glendale and Tampa. Arlington "remains undecided on whether to pursue the next round of title games, but officials from both Arizona and Tampa said they would not bid on the next three title games" (ESPN.com, 3/3).
QUEEN'S FEAST? Charlotte Sports Foundation Exec Dir Will Webb said, "We have not made a decision yet (on whether to bid). I think we could do it. We've got the best open-air stadium in the country." Webb said that the "formula used to lure other events -- a compact, walkable downtown connecting the stadium with hotels, museums, restaurants and entertainment -- would be used in a national championship bid." SEC Network's Paul Finebaum added, "Charlotte has proven to be a world-class sports destination, evidenced not only by professional sports, the PGA and now the Presidents Cup, but the success of ACC game and the Belk Bowl." Finebaum said that the "one drawback could be the uncertain weather in Charlotte in January." Otherwise, he said that the city "has all of the necessary ingredients for hosting an event of this size." In Charlotte, Erik Spanberg noted a "possible roadblock" to the city hosting the CFP is geography. Atlanta is "part of the semifinal rotation and is all but certain to get a national title game soon after" the Falcons' new stadium opens in '17. Spanberg: "Throw in Tampa hosting the game in 2017 and the Southeastern U.S. is more than represented" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/3).
