Indianapolis places bid for 2018 Super Bowl

Indianapolis will enter the National Football League’s bid process to bring Super Bowl LLI to the city in 2018. The decision was announced after the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee board of directors unanimously voted last week to pursue a bid for the nation’s largest sporting event.

“The collaboration that went into the 2012 Super Bowl and the success of the event has generated tremendous community support to pursue the 2018 event,” Allison Melangton, Indiana Sports Corp president and former president/CEO of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee, said in a press release. “After doing our due diligence on the 2018 bid landscape, the Super Bowl Host Committee board has enthusiastically decided to move forward with a 2018 bid.”

For a 10-day celebration in early 2012, football fans from around the world flocked to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI, watching the New York Giants topple the New England Patriots 21-17 on Feb. 5, 2012.

Rockport Analytics’ economic impact study for Super Bowl XLVI showed a direct economic impact of $176 million, according to the release, with about 84 cents of every dollar spent on the event being retained in Indianapolis.

The 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee board of directors voted to enter the bid process after consulting other community members.

“Super Bowl XLVI was a monumental success from the international spotlight to the economic benefits throughout the state,” Gov. Mike Pence said in the release. “We’ve shown multiple times that Indiana can hold world-class sporting events, and we look forward to the chance to host a Super Bowl for a second time.”

The NFL will review the list of cities officially submitted as candidates in the next few months, according to the release. In October, the NFL will announce a shortened list of finalists that will be invited to formally bid. The 32 NFL team-owners will vote on the host city for the 2018 Super Bowl in May 2014.

“From 1.1 million people enjoying the Super Bowl Village to youth initiatives that reached all 92 Indiana counties to the operational success in and around Lucas Oil Stadium, we exceeded our goals for Super Bowl XLVI,” said Mark Miles, chair of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. “As the effort moves forward with the 2018 Super Bowl bid, I have every confidence that it will once again be a community-based endeavor with ideas and excitement coming from throughout our great state.”

— Sydney Murray