UNSCRIPTED: Super Bowl LIX(59) is Back in New Orleans- How can Indianapolis be the Host?
Unscripted
By Keith Edmonds
FWIS Contributing Writer
*Written before the Super Bowl*
NEW ORLEANS, The Big Easy, NOLA. It is on deck again on Sunday February 9th, 2025, as the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles battle for the right to be called NFL WORLD CHAMPIONS for the 2024/2025 season in a city that will host it for the 11th time! I started thinking about why New Orleans has gotten to host so many times and what the economic impact is for a city that gets to host an event of this magnitude. Then it led me to thinking about how our Capital City of Indianapolis can host this huge event! (I know, I know who has time to think about stuff like this right)?
Caesars Superdome, (which used to be called Louisiana Superdome and Mercedes Benz Superdome), has been the place where for five decades, fans have come from all over the world to sit and watch the NFL’s best play in pro football’s most anticipated game. The last time that this venue was used was in 2013 and generated over 480 million dollars for the city and experts say that this year’s game will generate over 500 million! Granted it’s a beautiful venue in an awesome city that has more culture than space that I’m allowed to use for this piece, so I have no arguments as to why we’re back here watching this event, I get it! But aren’t their other venues that are just as attractive to draw fans in for the Super Bowl, and how can we get Indianapolis on the list?
I started digging and I found out that the NFL analyzes what cities might make sense in that particular year and starts looking at things like “fan engagement” weather, hotels, restaurants, bars, along with airport and freeway accessibility when trying to decide which cities can handle a major event like the Super Bowl. So, the question remains... How do cities get selected to be Super Bowl hosts? The selection process used to be based on the NFL inviting cities to submit an official bid to host; however, in 2018, the full-scale competition was suspended. The league now contacts the chosen city and asks it to develop a suitable proposal. The 32 teams’ owners then vote to accept or reject it. Are you reading this Indianapolis? Hosting a game of this magnitude requires a lot of preparation, and most people won’t see the bulk of that preparation.
The host city and representatives will interview close to 15,000 people to get 10,000 volunteers, and they all have to be outfitted, fed, and have background checks. Besides having the volunteer staff and stadium ready for the Super Bowl, the host cities are responsible for working with law enforcement to secure all the venues such as the game site, other NFL events, host committee events and events for media such as ESPN and Sports Illustrated. So, as you can see, it is a tedious process to host this MEGA event and if your city is fortunate enough to be chosen, then you must put on such a show that you get invited back!
Cities go over and beyond to try to lure the NFL “powers to be” to at least “consider” selecting their city as witnessed by Detroit, Houston, Dallas and yes Indianapolis building new stadiums to sweeten the pot! I’m going to list a FEW of the items needed for Indianapolis to be considered to host the BIG GAME (taken from the NFL’S 153-page rules document.)
1) The league requires that the host city provide at least 3 quality 18-hole golf courses and 2 top quality bowling lanes be provided as additional facilities needed at NO COST to the league. The NFL demands that the host city provides enough entertainment to tourists during Super Bowl week as well.
2) The chosen venue must have a seating capacity of at least 70,000 people and a minimum number of hotel rooms that are within a 60-minute drive from the stadium equal to 35% of the listed stadium capacity. They must also provide proof that they’ve offered the NFL Network to fans for at least a year prior to the game along with at least 25,00 hotel rooms in the area as well.
3) The NFL must have the option to install ATMS that accept NFL preferred credit/debit cards in exchange for cash and COVER UP any other ATM machines in the stadium area.
4) The host city will provide a natural grass field that will be re-sodded before the game. The league will not help with the field to be installed or removed as the host city will have to cover ANY charges that have been incurred.
5) The NFL requires that host cities be prepared for the large amount of drinking that will happen before, during, and after the game and require that local laws be changed to accommodate drinking until at least 4:00 AM after the game. Also, the city needs to provide at least 35,000 FREE parking spaces throughout the city on the day of the game.
Now after reading this my thoughts are do, we really want to go through all of these changes and added amenities just for 1 game? With an anticipated revenue of $350-$500 million for the city, my answer is WITHOUT A DOUBT!
Where will the Super Bowl be in the next few years?
2026 LX Santa Clara, California, Feb. 8 Levi's Stadium
2027 LXI Inglewood, California, Feb. 14 SoFi Stadium
2028 LXII Atlanta, Georgia, Feb. 13 Mercedes-Benz Stadium