Denver Could Benefit From Hosting Super Bowl
DENVER (CBS4)- Denver city leaders are confident they can bring the Super Bowl to the Mile High City despite factors that are stacked against Colorado.
Although the NFL has an open bidding process that any NFL city can apply to bid to host a Super Bowl, there are certain factors that may prevent Denver from making it into the final running; Sports Authority Field at Mile High is not new, the city is isolated and the weather is unpredictable.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock believes Denver has never been in a better position to host the Super Bowl.
"Denver's proven to be able to host international events on a scale even larger than the Super Bowl," said Hancock.
The City of Denver's tourism board views the 2008 Democratic National Convention as a turning point for the city's profile.
For Hancock, it was build-up for something he's dreamed of for Denver, "The Super Bowl is crem-de-la-crem, quite frankly, and we believe we have graduated to a place where the city is global."
Visit Denver also believes the 2008 DNC played a big role in positioning Denver as a premier host city.
"We refer to everything as BC and AD, Before the Convention and After the Democrats," said Visit Denver spokesman Rich Grant.
Grant said they compiled a 15-pound book about the city to sell Democrats on Denver as a location for their convention. He said the exposure Denver received should make the Super Bowl a realistic idea.
"Denver has evolved. Denver is a different city than it was five years ago. Anyone that lives here sees the changes," said Grant.
According to Patrick Smyth, Executive Director of Media Relations for Denver Broncos Football Club, "We submitted an application with the NFL's Super Bowl Advisory Committee to bid on the 2018, '19 and '20 Super Bowls."
Denver does have some advantages that other host cities may not; 300 days of sunshine and low traffic volume compared to other metropolitan areas.
League rules dictate the average temperature of an outdoor Super Bowl must be 50 degrees.
During the previous four Super Bowls, the weather in Denver was:
- Feb. 6, 2011- 33 degrees
- Feb. 7, 2010- 31 degrees
- Feb. 1, 2009- 45 degrees
- Feb. 3, 2008- 49 degrees
"Pat Bowlen has always maintained an interest in bringing the Super Bowl to this community and the great football fans of the Rocky Mountain Region. He believes the city of Denver along with the Broncos would be excellent hosts," said Smyth.
