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NFL owners have made a habit of rewarding cities that build
new stadiums by giving them the Super Bowl and Minneapolis is
the latest recipient after getting the nod ahead of rival bids
from New Orleans and Indianapolis.
The $1 billion Minnesota Vikings Stadium is still under
construction but is due to be finished in 2016, two years before
the biggest single day sports event in North America rolls
around.
“We are thrilled to bring the Super Bowl back to Minnesota,”
said Richard Davis, who chaired the bid committee, in a
statement.
“We succeeded in making the best case to the NFL owners by
pointing out the many strengths our region offers."
In recent years, the NFL has increasingly awarded Super Bowls to
cities in colder weather states with new stadiums. The 2012
Super Bowl was held in Indianapolis then this year's in New
Jersey.
It will be just the second time Minneapolis has hosted the Super
Bowl after the recently demolished Metrodome was picked as the
site for the 1992 game.
The Vikings will play at the University of Minnesota for the
next two seasons while the new stadium is being constructed.
The new Vikings Stadium, which was half funded by public money,
will have a retractable roof that will be closed for the Super
Bowl, which will be played in the heart of winter.
"We appreciate the collaborative effort from Minnesota's
business and community leadership in putting together this
winning bid," Vikings owner Mark Wilf said.
"It was evident to me and my brother Zygi that the other NFL
owners were extremely impressed with everything Minnesota had to
offer, and we have no doubt they will be even more excited with
what the community will deliver in February 2018."
New Orleans has already hosted the Super Bowl a record 10 times,
most recently in 2013, while Indianapolis was the host city in
2012.
The next three Super Bowls will all be held in warmer-weather
cities with Phoenix selected for 2015, San Francisco for 2016
and Houston for 2017.
(Reporting by Julian Linden, editing by Gene Cherry)
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Minneapolis
Awarded 52nd Super Bowl In 2018
