It's not much to look at now, but the new Santa Clara stadium could likely host the Super Bowl in 2016. (Ali Thanawalla/SFBay)
With renovations for the Miami Dolphins’ stadium stalled indefinitely, the 49ers’ bid to host Super Bowl L now goes nearly unchallenged.
A newly revamped Sun Life Stadium was at the heart of Miami’s pitch to host 2016’s biggest game of the season; however, the $350 million renovation price tag proved too hefty for Florida lawmakers to swallow.
On Friday, the Florida Legislature adjourned from their current session without passing a state funding bill for the stadium’s renovations. And even if a renovation bill is later approved, polls show that locals strongly oppose the taxpayer-funded project.
All this calamity spells a virtual lock-in for the new Santa Clara stadium to host the Super Bowl. Coincidentally, it would bring the big game back to the Bay for the first time since Stanford Stadium hosted a 49ers victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX in 1985.
Estimates indicate hosting the Super Bowl would rake up to $500 million for the Bay Area from San Francisco to San Jose.
Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews is happy about the news, but refuses to count his eggs before they hatch. He told NBC Bay Area:
“Until the [NFL vote] happens on [May 21], we don’t know for sure. But each step that leads up to that is very exciting.”
The $1 billion state-of-the-art Santa Clara stadium is expected to open next year.
Last modified May 5, 2013 1:25 pm
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