It seems unlikely U.S. Bank Stadium will become part of the usual rotation of Super Bowl host citesGETTY IMAGES
The Minnesota Host Committee "got it right" in hosting the events surrounding Super Bowl LII, but it "seems unlikely U.S. Bank Stadium will become part of the usual rotation of towns" such as Miami, New Orleans and L.A., according to John Shipley of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. Visitors leaving the Twin Cities today will have "nothing to say about Minnesota that we don’t already say." The winter weather "can be rough, but you can’t let it get in the way." Not hosting the game again "would be a shame because Minnesota is one of the great NFL markets with one of its great stadiums in one of the great metropolitan areas." Shipley: "We showed this week that [the Twin Cities] can throw a party as well, or better, than anyone" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/5). In Minnesota, Tom Elliott writes, "Thanks for coming, Super Bowl folks." Elliott: "Hope to see you next time, whenever that will be, probably when the home team needs another new stadium in 25 or so years. We've never wanted to be a cold Omaha" (ST. CLOUD TIMES, 2/5).
BOURBON STREET MISSES YOU: In New Orleans, Jeff Duncan wrote Super Bowl LII "looks like a one-and-done event for the Bold North." As spectacular as U.S. Bank Stadium is and as "friendly as the army of Minnesota volunteers are, the lack of downtown infrastructure and Arctic climate are deal-breakers." Just as the Super Bowl has "not been back to Detroit since it hosted the game" in '06, "don't look for the Super Bowl to return to Minneapolis anytime soon." After next year's game in Atlanta, the Super Bowl "should return to some semblance of its regularly-scheduled rotation." NFL owners awarded the '20-22 Super Bowls to Miami, Tampa and L.A., respectively, last fall. Single-city negotiations are "expected to be used" when the league awards the '23-24 Super Bowls later this year, and it would be a "major surprise if New Orleans doesn't land the 2024 game." Las Vegas at one time was thought to be a "viable competitor" for the '24 game, but it "probably will have to wait until the Raiders' new 65,000-seat stadium is completed before receiving one" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 2/4).
JUST A MATTER OF TIME: In Las Vegas, Michael Gehlken noted there is "no guarantee" the '23 Super Bowl will be awarded to the Raiders' new stadium, but a combination of recent history and comments from NFL execs "indicate the opportunity should arrive in the next eight years." Raiders Owner Mark Davis serves on the Super Bowl and Major Events Advisory Committee, "positioning him to have an active role in where Super Bowl LVII will be located" in '23. Las Vegas, upon hosting the game, "would be the latest NFL city to which league owners have awarded a Super Bowl following a stadium construction" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/4). Also in Las Vegas, Ed Graney wrote it is "certain with the building of an NFL stadium and arrival of the Raiders, the NFL will award Las Vegas a Super Bowl." However, Las Vegas "might want a Super Bowl, but it definitely doesn’t need one" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/4).
IT'LL BE READY, I PROMISE: In Atlanta, Jeff Schultz noted with Super Bowl LIII set for Mercedes-Benz Stadium next year, Falcons Owner Arthur Blank is "confident that issues pertaining to the hypothetically retractable roof ... will be resolved by 'late spring, early summer'" before the venue is set to host the Super Bowl. It has been well-documented that the roof "still doesn’t open and close like it’s supposed to and has leaked" in its first year of use (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/4).
