San Francisco To Host 50th Super Bowl

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Super Bowl L will be held in Santa Clara, Calif., in February 2016 at Levi’s Stadium, the future home of the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers are entering their final season at Candlestick Park. Their new stadium is an estimated 50 percent complete.

The 50th Super Bowl will be played in the same state in which Super Bowl I was played in 1967. That game, referred to by some as the “supergame” was played in Los Angeles.

“We’re humbled and honored by this opportunity,” San Francisco chairman Daniel Lurie told NFL Network, which aired the decision live Tuesday afternoon from the owner’s meetings in Boston. “The Bay Area has been waiting for this game since 1985. We’re just thrilled and couldn’t be happier about this decision.”

The 49ers won the Super Bowl at Stanford Stadium in ’85, a 38-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX.

Santa Clara boasts becoming the first “fully green” Super Bowl. Part of the stadium construction plan calls for powering “all 49ers home games with solar power resources.”

CEO Jed York said the game figures to be the “first cashless, ticketless venue with

WiFi capability for 75,000 people in Super Bowl history.”

“Every year, football fans celebrate this great game on Super Bowl Sunday,” York said. “Now, our region has a tremendous opportunity to be celebrated on an international stage, as we play host to the Super Bowl.”

Earning a Super Bowl on the first ballot requires 24 votes or a super majority of the 32 total votes. The last time a Super Bowl was awarded in one round of voting was the Glendale, Ariz., election 10 years ago.

Santa Clara was named host city for the golden anniversary game over Houston and Miami. Those cities were then in competition for Super Bowl LI, and Houston was awarded the game in 2017 on a single vote by ownership.

“It’s like an overtime win for us,” said Ric Campo, chairman of the Houston host committee. “I think Houston just has a better package right now. We have world-class assets. … The city has really been rebuilt over the last 10 years.”

South Florida was considered a less serious candidate after the legislature refused to vote on a stadium renovation plan. Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said major events would not consider South Florida unless major upgrades were made.

“Congratulations to San Francisco and Houston on Super Bowl L and LI. However, we don’t think there’s a better place in the country to host Super Bowl than right here in South Florida,” Ross said. “I am grateful for the hard work and creative energy that the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee showed in their bid. Today’s decision doesn’t dampen our enthusiasm to pursue Super Bowls in the future, since we are steadfast in our belief that those games are good for the South Florida community.”

Houston hosted the Super Bowl in 2004. but the city and Reliant Stadium have undergone major changes, owner Bob McNair said. Among the changes: the world’s largest scoreboard will be installed in the home stadium of the Texans.

The expansion of public space downtown, in addition to two newer, large hotels should aid in the city’s bid to put on a strong show in Super Bowl LI.

“It’s going to make it very convenient for everyone,” McNair told NFL Network

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