Super Bowl L Update
Monday, May 6, 2013
Taylor Price, 49ers.com
The new Santa Clara Stadium remains a strong contender to host Super Bowl L.
The future home of the 49ers, set to open in 2014, is one of two candidates to host the biggest game in professional sports at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
The San Francisco Super Bowl committee is up against South Florida to host Super Bowl L. The decision will come down to a vote from NFL owners on May 21.
After recent developments in South Florida, Santa Clara could be considered favorites to host the big game. Peter King of Sports Illustrated explained the reasoning in his Monday Morning Quarterback column.
“When the Florida legislature on Friday refused to allow the citizens of South Florida to vote on whether to increase the South Florida hotel tax from 6 to 7 percent, it put a huge damper on the chance for Super Bowl L to be held at Dolphins Stadium,” King wrote.
“The league had said the site very much needs the proposed $350 million stadium improvement. Owners are slated to vote for Super Bowls 50 and 51 at the spring meetings in Boston May 20-22. Super Bowl 50 was a battle between the San Francisco Bay Area and South Florida, with 51 likely headed to either Houston or the loser of the fight for 50.
“So, barring a late Hail Mary from Miami owner Stephen Ross, it’s likely Santa Clara (45 miles south of San Francisco) will get 50 and Houston 51. It would be the first Super Bowl in the Bay Area in 31 years, since the Joe Montana-Dan Marino faceoff in Palo Alto in January 1985.”
