We’re just over one year removed from a New Orleans-hosted Super Bowl, and we may be less than four years away from another one.
New Orleans is a 2-to-1 favorite to host Super Bowl LII in 2018, according to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, and a verdict should come sometime during the NFL owners’ spring meeting in Atlanta on Tuesday.
The city was founded as La Nouvelle-Orleans in May 1718, and New Orleans officials and owner Tom Benson will focus on the historic aspects of the bid, and the fixing of the problems that led to the blackout in the Ravens-49ers Super Bowl. New Orleans has hosted the Super Bowl 10 times. Benson, who turns 87 in July, might be making his final appeal for a Super Bowl, and ownership is inclined to favor a long-time owner appealing for a favor.
Is the Crescent City in store for its 11th Super Bowl? The numbers say yes.
And ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on “SportsCenter” New Orleans that history shows that New Orleans is definitely the front-runner.
“Every time New Orleans has bid on the Super Bowl, it’s never lost. New Orleans goes into this, you would think, as the favorite in this particular situation. New Orleans is a great Super Bowl city. Fans down in New Orleans embrace it. The Super Bowl comes in and takes over the city. …Anytime New Orleans is up for a Super Bowl, you have to look at New Orleans as the favorite.”
Among the other cities in the mix for Super Bowl LII are Minnesota and Indianapolis, which King pegged both at 7-2 odds. Minnesota will have a new stadium by 2018, which works is its favor, while Indy’s last Super Bowl — which featured the Patriots and Giants — proved to be a classic.
Reporting from Atlanta, ESPN reporter Sal Paolantonio outlined what each city has going for it, which includes New Orleans’ 300th anniversary and a new stadium coming to the Twin Cities.
“(Indianapolis) did such a great job when the Patriots and Giants played there a few years ago, but they were blessed with good weather. Then there’s New Orleans, the Superdome, hosted seven Super Bowls, the most of any stadium in the NFL. New Orleans, in 2018 when they will play Super Bowl 52, will be celebrating its 300th anniversary as a city, so that’s a natural hook.
“Then the Twin Cities: new Vikings Stadium will be online. The ownership likes to reward their partners when they get a new stadium. But that would be an outdoor stadium for the visitors, an indoor Super Bowl for those going to stadium because it has a roof on it, and it’s 30 percent glass so you’ll be able to see the beautiful sky in Minneapolis. It will be cold there, but the game will be indoors.”
