Council Committee Backs Super Bowl Bid

Indianapolis is preparing its final bid to host the 2018 Super Bowl.

Organizers met with a City County Council committee this week to discuss the process and what hosting the NFL’s title game in 2012 meant for the city.

Members of the Administration and Finance Committee passed a special resolution showing its support for the bid.

"I think it is a great opportunity to market and sell Indianapolis," said Councilor Jack Sandlin.  "I still think that (the 2012 Super Bowl) pays dividends."

Indianapolis is one of three finalists to host Super Bowl 52, along with New Orleans and Minneapolis.

Bid Committee Treasurer Derrick Burks says the game two years ago generated $21 million, almost ten times the amount of what the city brings in during a normal year.

"If we didn't have the Super Bowl and there were other tourism related events during that period of time, based on a five year average, that number would have been $2.8 million," he said.  "So, the Super Bowl generated $18.2 million of incremental tax revenues."

He says that is enough to cover what the city invested.

James Taylor of the John H. Boner Community Center says the game continues to pay off in Indianapolis neighborhoods.

"We have ten new businesses that have opened in our neighborhood including Indianapolis' first food co-ops," he said.  "People's lives have been changed forever.  A neighborhood has been changed forever."

Burks believes hosting the game in four years can have a similar impact.

"We don't know that we will be as successful in 2018, but there is no reason to believe that we will not," he said.  "We are clearly the gold standard.  Everything that is being asked for in all the bids is 'you must meet this.  You must meet that.'  Those standards we established."

The host committee will submit a preliminary bid to the NFL in April and make a formal presentation in May when the 2018 host city will be chosen.