How Is The Host City Decided For The Super Bowl?

There are a few things to consider when picking a host city for the Super Bowl. Since this game is such a big day for the NFL, they want to make sure the venue is up to the standard that it deserves. Cities across the country jump at the chance to put their bid in with the NFL’s Selection Committee. The committee then takes certain variables into account on who to vote for. Below, we will discuss in greater detail the process by which the NFL selects host cities for the Super Bowl.

How Does the NFL Decide on the Host City for the Super Bowl?

While any city can put in its bid with the selection committee, there are some specific requirements that the city must have. The requirements are as follows:

1. They must have an NFL team in their city already, and thus an official NFL Stadium.
2. The stadium must have at least 70,000 seats.
3. Temporary seating specifically for the Super Bowl is allowed, but it must be approved by the NFL.
4. There must be at least 35,000 parking spaces available within a one-mile radius of the stadium.
5. The selection committee also takes into account the temperature of the city during game days. The minimum required temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Warm vs. Cold City

As the Super Bowl takes place during the winter, cold cities are not chosen often. The Selection Committee wants to keep players safe and make sure there are fewer delays. If cold cities are chosen, they are most likely cities which contain domed stadiums that can offer a controlled climate to ensure that game factors remain the same for both teams.

Stadium Quality

Stadium quality is an important factor when picking the Super Bowl host city. Newer stadiums are more attractive to the committee because they usually come with fewer problems. A stadium that is rarely or never chosen for the Super Bowl, for example, is the Washington Commanders’ current stadium, FedEx Field. This is because, throughout the season, the stadium often has issues with leaks, both major and minor. Some small leaks can go unnoticed, but a large sewage leak is a major talking point for fans and the selection committee.

City Amenities

As the Super Bowl brings in a large number of fans and tourists, the city needs to have a proper amount of amenities and places to stay. The city that has been chosen the most is Miami because it is warm and has a lot of bars, nightclubs, and hotels for fans and media members to enjoy. Altogether, Miami has hosted 11 Super Bowls, and hosted most recently on February 2, 2020, for Super Bowl LIV. Cities are usually booked for Super Bowl weekend nearly a year in advance. The reason why people are able to buy tickets so far in advance is that the Super Bowl host city is chosen between three and six years prior to when it is held there.

Where Will Upcoming Super Bowls Be Hosted?

Currently, the host cities and venues for the next two Super Bowls, which will be held in 2024 and 2025, have been announced. They are as follows:

Currently, the venues for Super Bowls beyond 2025 have not been announced, though speculators suggest that a likely candidate for Super Bowl LX, which will be held in 2026, is Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the home field of the San Francisco 49ers.

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