Vikings brass believe the Super Bowl can thrive in northern cities like MinneapolisGETTY IMAGES
While hosting Super Bowl LII this Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, Vikings co-Owner Mark Wilf is "already casting an eye toward the Twin Cities’ next chance to stage" the game, according to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Wilf said that the game "belongs in northern cities, not just those with the warmest winter weather." Wilf said, "This [is] a great community and maybe we’ll have this come here again. I think that’s something that’s certainly going to be on the radar. ... Detroit did a great job (with Super Bowl XL). Why not have more northern Super Bowls? They’ve proven every time that it’s been here in the north that it’s been successful." Wilf also said that the Vikings are "interested in hosting the NFL draft, saying the team could stage it at both U.S. Bank Stadium and its new practice facility in Eagan" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/1).
DALLAS BUYERS' CLUB? In Dallas, David Moore notes the Cowboys have "let the NFL know they want to host another Super Bowl." Cowboys COO, Exec VP & Dir of Player Personnel Stephen Jones said, "The first open date is five years away. The way the process works now, the Cowboys essentially have a standing bid in place to host the event starting in 2023 going forward." Moore notes it has "always been the club’s intent to carve out a niche for North Texas in the Super Bowl rotation" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/1).
CALIFORNIA DREAMING: In California, Rich Hammond notes four years out, L.A.'s first Super Bowl in almost three decades "already is taking shape." Unlike this year’s host city, Minneapolis, which has a "downtown stadium and chose to center most of its game-week activities in that area," the L.A. group "plans to spread out the map" in '22. The group "already has identified likely sites for most of the big events leading up to the Super Bowl." The L.A. Convention Center "will host NFL Experience." Exposition Park's outdoor area is "expected to host Super Bowl Live." The NFL Honors will "take place either at The Forum or at a 6,000-seat performance venue set to open adjacent to the Inglewood stadium." The outdoor area around the Inglewood stadium will "host concerts and other game-week events" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/31).
