Super Bowl 52 is coming to Minneapolis in 2018.
The NFL announced the big news today after bid committees representing the Vikings and Minneapolis, Saints and New Orleans, and Colts and Indianapolis gave 15-minute presentations to all 32 team owners in Atlanta, Georgia.
The vote consisted of four possible rounds, and Indianapolis was eliminated after round one. Here’s a review courtesy of NFL Network on how the voting worked. A winner wasn’t decided after rounds two or three, either, so the final majority vote (17 of 32 owners) decided the outcome.
Minnesota’s bid committee was led by U.S. Bancorp CEO Richard Davis and Carlson Cos. Board Chair Marilyn Carlson Nelson.
US Bank CEO Richard Davis on Super Bowl pitch: "I’ve never felt better and never wanted a do-over. It went exactly as we wanted." #mnvikings
— Brian Murphy (@murphmedia_) May 20, 2014
The NFL’s two best teams will convene at Minnesota’s new multipurpose, nearly $1 billion stadium currently being constructed on the site of the demolished Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
Most pundits picked New Orleans as the favorite to land the Super Bowl. The Big Easy hoped to use Super Bowl 52 as a starting gate for a year-long celebration for the city’s 300th birthday. Had it won the bid, it would have been the 11th Super Bowl played in New Orleans, which is currently tied with Miami for hosting an NFL-record 10 championship tilts.
The bid from Minnesota focused on a theme of “Built for the Bold.” The bold idea paid off and the NFL owners delivered Minnesota its second Super Bowl.
According to KSTP, this is the first time New Orleans has lost a Super Bowl bid. The city was a perfect 10 for 10 in previous attempts. New Orleans last hosted the Super Bowl in 2012, and the game was marred by a lengthy power outage in the stadium. New Orleans’ bid committee reportedly began today’s presentation assuring owners that the blackout issue has been cured.
Minneapolis has hosted one previous Super Bowl. It was Jan. 26, 1992 at the Metrodome. The Washington Redskins beat the Buffalo Bills, 37-24 to claim the Lombardi Trophy.
