Geoff, With all these new stadiums putting in bids for upcoming Super Bowls, why isn't Cincinnati throwing their hat in the ring? We have a new stadium yet Arizona was awarded the 2008 Super Bowl and they don't even have a stadium built yet. Call me crazy but this seems a little unfair. Whats up with that? It can't be all about the weather since New York seems to be the front runner for the 2010 Superbowl, and they too don't have that stadium built yet. Why can't we host a Superbowl?
Billy
BILLY:
Since Paul Brown Stadium isn't designed to have a roof (and we can be thankful for that), it's a longshot Cincinnati would ever even be considered for a Super Bowl. And if the new stadium in Manhattan doesn't have a roof, New York won't get it either. While the NFL does, at times, have a big-city bias, that's not the case when it comes to Super Bowls. It's just a hard fact of life.
The idea of rotating the big game through a series of popular warm weather cities has worked relatively well. It's only been recently that the NFL has traded the Super Bowl for a new stadium, which happened in Atlanta, Detroit, and maybe New York if the plan gets off the skids. Yet, that's only been on a case-by-case basis, and you have to believe Kansas City would have trouble getting a bid even with a roof on a new stadium because they're fighting those small-market demons.
And a lot of those look to be close to one-time deals. It took 24 years for the game to return to Detroit, and even a sparkling big-city jewel like Atlanta couldn't beat its disastrous cold snap in 2000 to fend off Tampa for the 2009 game.
Let's face it. There are basic requirements for this game. It's got to be a city that is already popular among tourists (read warm weather), can lure the suits, and has plenty of hotel space. If it doesn't have one of the above, then you're going to have it about only once and you better have a roof.
Cincinnati can't really compete with fellow small market Jacksonville when it comes to hotel rooms. Plus, Jack had the Florida weather and the ability to float in luxury boats to house guests, and they still may never get it again.
But Cincinnati is in plenty of good company. Chicago won't get a Super Bowl. Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Baltimore, New England won't either. Besides, you've got to believe that most Bengals' fans would rather have the open-air stadium than a shot at hosting the Super Bowl.
It's just a fact of life. This isn't an expense-account town for these credit card mega events. But a lot of people would say that is one of the facts that make Cincinnati a great place to live and be a pro sports fan.
