http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3197210 Houston to find out today if NFL gives it No. XLIII By JOHN MCCLAIN Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle WASHINGTON - Houston will find out today if it will host the 2009 Super Bowl. On the last day of the NFL spring meetings, the owners will listen to 15-minute presentations from Houston, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Miami before casting secret ballots to determine the host city. Houston, which hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, is trying to get a third Super Bowl, including its second in six years. "I was impressed with the city and the fans, and it's not just me," Dallas owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday about the last Houston Super Bowl. "Everyone in the NFL thought that they were just outstanding, the fans and people that did the work to make it a great event." Although officials from Tampa, Fla., and Miami also believe they have an excellent chance of being awarded Super Bowl XLIII, league sources have said for months they believe it will come down to Houston and Atlanta. Each has hosted two Super Bowls. "I think it'll be between Houston and Atlanta, and I think Houston's got a good shot," said Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams, who has lived in Houston since World War II. "Houston proved in 2004 that it can put on a good show. Everyone I know from around the league said they had a great time in Houston." At the end of their first day of meetings, the owners attended a congressional reception. Before he left, Texans owner Bob McNair expressed his confidence in winning the 2009 game. "I've been so busy today working on league matters that I haven't had time to talk with the owners other than to tell them that we have the strongest bid," McNair said. "When it comes to the facilities and financial package, our bid's second to none." Bids have been seen Each city has seen the bids from the competition. Those participating in the 15-minute presentations spent part of Tuesday practicing speeches. Before he left Houston for Washington, where he will speak to the owners on Houston's behalf during the presentation, Mayor Bill White discussed the Super Bowl vote. "I got some information a few weeks ago from our Super Bowl organizing committee that both the state government and city government in Atlanta were saying that they were going to write checks out of their general budgets or special budgets in order to basically pay the Super Bowl to come," White said. "I don't think that's right. "I don't think any state or locality should start taking money out of public services in order to have a special event like that. The Super Bowl did well here. The NFL made money, and I'm just against that kind of use of taxpayer funds. We can get a good product without having the taxpayers subsidize Super Bowls. Olympic-sized problem "I'd heard some concerns expressed by people on the (host committee). I respect the fact that the NFL traditionally hasn't required that. You know, sometimes, you've gotten into that kind of stuff with the Olympics, what's going on right now worldwide, with people taking big collections. I think it would be wrong for the NFL to do it." john.mcclain@chron.com
How did Jacksonville do as a host city? The word leading up to the Superbowl was that it was too small...
that was the word afterwards, too. not enough transportation to serve the hotels which weren't concentrated enough. it was a mess, as i understood it.
Tampa got it... its suprising that they'd go back to Florida for the 3rd time in 5 years (Jacksonville, Miami after this year, and then Tampa in 09).
That really came out of nowhere . The two frontrunners were Houston and Atl from what Ive been hearing . I was out of the Country for the last SB , now it looks like I will have to wait even LONGER to go my 1st SB
How did Tampa get it over Houston? The first class stadium, nightlife, and food should have put Houston on top.
Houston and Atlanta's voted probably canceled each other out and thus Tampa won the vote, which sucks....
What's this 610 is talking about.. tampa gave nfl a million for "game day expenses"?? is that normal? is it the city giving it to them. or nfl or what... and i see our mayor from the article didnt' like the way Atlanta was going about things....
Absolutely r****ded. Apparently, Houston was the first city to get eliminated, followed by Miami, and Atlanta. NFL's reasoning for Houston being the first to be eliminated? Houston just had a Superbowl. OK, morons. Miami is going to have the f***ing Superbowl in 2007. Wrong PR pull there. This will also be Florida's 3rd f***ing superbowl in 5 f***ing years. It should have been Houston, or Atlanta. Hell, I would have said Atlanta deserved it. This cements what my thinking was. Houston won't have another Superbowl for 29 more years. Look forward to Super Bowl LXVIII gentlemen.
that sucks.... Why the hell would they give it to Tampa? Who cares if the Super Bowl was here earlier?
Isn't Tampa just as small as Jacksonville? Reports from last SuperBowl said that most people hated it. They had to bring in cruise ships to use has hotels b/c all the Motel 6s were all filled up.
Chronicle reports today indicate it may have something to do with payback to McNair for not being more "compassionate" to smaller revenue teams on the finance committee.
