Exclusive: Super Bowl Cmte. Chair Barreto Discusses Pitch To NFL Execs
MIAMI (CBS4) - Members of the South Florida Super Bowl Committee met with NFL executives Tuesday in New York where they discussed the area's bid for Super Bowl 50 before the formal presentation and vote in Boston on May 21.
During the meeting, NFL Executives advised the team what should be "tweaked" to increase Miami's chances for landing the big game.
In an exclusive one on one sit down with CBS4's Cynthia Demos when he returned from New York, Super Bowl Host Chairman Rodney Barreto explained the core of the meeting to NFL executives .
"So part of this presentation is a Super Bowl Park in Downtown Miami. What does that mean and how long will it last," asked Demos.
Berreto replied, "It will last seven to ten days. Events like you have never seen before in the center of Downtown Miami. Exact details are under wraps."
The South Florida host committee is too afraid competitor Santa Clara, CA with its brand new stadium may swipe some ideas. Miami is up against Santa Clara for Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
If Miami doesn't get that bid they go up against Houston for Super Bowl 51.
The South Florida Super Bowl committee must have their final bid in the hands of the NFL on May 8th. That's six days before a vote on the sticking point of this entire process: a vote to spend 289 Million dollars over 30 years of taxpayer money on Sun Life Stadium.
The Dolphins behind this plan say the upgrade isn't just for the upcoming Super Bowl bids but would attract other high profile and major money driving events.
South Florida's package is said to be worth about $20 million dollars, with most of the planned events taking place "along the Biscayne Blvd corridor in Downtown Miami," according to Chairman Barreto.
Miami-Dade County will vote May 14th on whether to accept a proposed tax on mainland hotel rooms to be used to finance part of the Sun Life Stadium modernization that Dolphins agreed to with Mayor Carlos Gimenez earlier this month.
Demos asked Barreto, "If this vote on May 14th fails what are the chances that on May 15th Dolphins owner Stephen Ross just writes a check?"
Barreto replied, "I can't speak for the Dolphins or Stephen Ross. I don't know what their thought process is."
Whichever city does not get 50, will go up against Houston to host Super Bowl 51.
