Fletcher: Super Bowl selection comes down to choosing tradition in NOLA or new stadiums in other cities
Leaders from the New Orleans Saints and the city's tourism community are in Charlotte, North Carolina, working to bring the world's biggest sporting event to the Crescent City.
The city's representatives are bidding on the Super Bowl in 2019.
A winning bid means that New Orleans will host the game for a record 11th time. The economic impact for the Crescent City would be almost $800 million.
But unlike in years past, when New Orleans was the presumptive favorite when making Super Bowl bids, the city is a long shot this week.
NFL owners will award three Super Bowls on Tuesday afternoon. Five cities are bidding for the games: New Orleans, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami and Los Angeles.
With new stadiums opening or under construction, it's a foregone conclusion that Atlanta and Los Angeles will be two of the three host cities selected.
What are New Orleans' chances?
"We're an underdog this time." said Jay Cicero of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.
New Orleans can bid only on the 2019 game this week because of conflicting events in the city in both 2020 and 2021.
In 2020, New Orleans will host the NCAA college football national championship game, and in 2021 the city will host one of North America's largest conventions the same week as the Super Bowl.
But tourism leaders believe that even with slim odds, they can deliver big.
"We believe we've got the best package, the best city. Our bid will be formidable and our city has so much to offer. It's proven New Orleans is a winner, number one when it comes to major events," said Mark Romig of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.
And maybe the owners owe New Orleans.
New Orleans was the favorite two years ago to land the Super Bowl in 2018, a game that would have coincided with the city's tricentennial.
It would have been a hot ticket.
But in a surprise move, the NFL owners went with freezing Minneapolis and the Vikings' new stadium.
"Two years ago we were the favorite. This year were not, but the NFL owners can get everything they want. They can have a great, traditional host city in 2019 and award the 2020 and 2021 games to cities with new stadiums. That's our pitch: Get everything you want," Cicero said.
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