After an 11-year absence, the Super Bowl will return to New Orleans. NFL owners voted today to award the 2013 Super Bowl to New Orleans, marking the 10th time the game will be played in the Crescent City. While New Orleans had long been one of the league’s favorite venues for the Super Bowl — because the Superdome is close to hotels, restaurants and nightlife — uncertainty over the Saints’ future in the stadium hindered efforts to attract another game. Earlier this month, the state and Saints announced a lease extension through 2025 that included $85 million in upgrades to the Superdome. That deal cleared the way for the game to return.
The Times-Picayune reported that the city’s bid for the 2013 game steered largely clear of playing off public sentiment for Hurricane Katrina recovery and noted the big national sporting events that have recently been held in New Orleans, such as the 2008 BCS Championship Game and the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. The Super Bowl is expected to pump $300 million into the New Orleans economy, thanks to the game and all the parties and corporate events going on during the two-week period before kickoff.
