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Houston and Atlanta are running neck and neck and headed for a photo finish Wednesday when NFL owners vote on the 2009 Super Bowl at their spring meetings in Washington.
Houston, Atlanta, Tampa and Miami are finalists for Super Bowl XLIII, and league sources say that, barring a major upset, either Houston or Atlanta will be awarded a third Super Bowl.
"I feel that we've got the best bid, but that doesn't always mean you're going to be awarded the game," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "Sometimes, other things factor into it. Its a political process.
"That's why I'm not ruling out anyone.
Heavyweights from Houston's political and business arenas are going to Washington to support or participate in the 15-minute presentation Wednesday that will be followed by secret ballots until one city gets a majority.
Heading the Houston contingent are McNair, Chuck Watson, chairman of the bid committee; mayor Bill White; Harris County judge Robert Echols; consultant Robert Dale Morgan, president and CEO of 2004 Houston Super Bowl Host Committee; Don Henderson, vice president and managing director of the Hyatt-Houston; Jordy Tollett, president of Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau; Shea Guinn, president and general manager of Reliant Park; and Denis Braham, an attorney who heads the sports practice at Winstead Sechrest & Minick.
"We've received terrific support from the city and county," McNair said. "Mayor White and Judge Echols will be part of our presentation."
McNair, who serves on NFL committees, has been working behind the scenes to help Houston host its second Super Bowl in six seasons.
"I'm talking with them, writing letters doing everything I can to solicit their support," McNair said about the other 31 owners.
The 2004 Super Bowl in which New England defeated Carolina 32-29 at Reliant Stadium was regarded as a smashing success by many NFL owners and executives who were impressed by the facilities, hospitality, entertainment venues and restaurants.
"We've done a lot of work, and we think we have a great bid," said Watson, who chaired the 2004 host committee. "We think we have a great bid, but I'm impressed with all the bids."
Each city has positives and negatives.
Tampa, which has hosted three Super Bowls, might be too small for another one. Some corporate sponsors had to host parties in Orlando, where many fans also were housed.
Miami is an outstanding location, but South Florida hosts the 2007 Super Bowl, and it's unlikely the owners will vote another one there so soon. If they do, it will give Florida three in five years, including Jacksonville in 2005.
That leaves Houston and Atlanta as the 2009 front-runners. The main factor working against Atlanta is something beyond its control — bad weather.
It was extremely cold in 1994, and a freak ice storm in 2000 shut down many of the roads, which caused huge problems around the city.
"I've always believed the first card you play is your performance, and we received positive feedback on our efforts in 2004," Watson said. "We did a great job in 2004, and we can do it again.
"But we have to let the NFL know that we understand it was our first Super Bowl in a long time, and we know there's always room for improvement."
Nantz lends a voice
McNair, Watson, White and Echols will speak. Then, only the owners will remain in the room while the owner from each city makes a five-minute wrap-up speech.
Included in each city's 15-minute presentation is a highlight video promoting what the area has to offer. CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz, who attended the University of Houston and considers Houston his second home, narrated the seven-minute video.
"We think the NFL will make more money in Houston because we're agreeable to pick up more of the costs," Watson said. "What we have to offer at Reliant Stadium, Reliant Center and the Astrodome — there's nothing better for a Super Bowl venue."
Another strength is the Hilton Americas-Houston as the NFL and media headquarters. Because it's connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center, the convenience factor was unparalleled at the 2004 Super Bowl.
"We believe we've got so many great things to offer the NFL owners, corporate sponsors, the competing teams, fans and media," Watson said.
Too soon to repeat?
The Houston bid included such options as three practice sites (Texans' facility, Rice Stadium and the University of Houston) for the competing teams and three hotel areas for their headquarters (Galleria, Greenspoint and Westchase).
In 2004, heavy rain early in the week caused Patriots coach Bill Belichick to switch practice from Rice to the Texans' facility.
The Patriots were housed at the InterContinental in the Galleria, and the Panthers stayed at the Wyndham Greenspoint.
But one drawback against Houston could be that the city hosted a Super Bowl since the other finalists.
Atlanta, which has hosted two Super Bowls, four World Series and the 1996 Summer Olympics, has statesman Andrew Young narrating its video.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank is planning to enhance the Georgia Dome. Blank, who paid $545 million for the Falcons in 2002, has promised to put $150 million toward the project that includes taking out a corner of the stadium and adding a new entrance and atrium for restaurants, retail and entertainment.
Blank's plan, which could cost approximately $300 million, includes additional luxury suites and club seats.
Blank predicts the project would be completed in 2008.
In close proximity to the Georgia Dome are the Georgia World Congress Center, Phillips Arena, Centennial Olympic Park, the new World of Coke, a children's museum and the new Georgia Aquarium.
"Every city has put its best foot forward," Watson said, "and this could be the closest Super Bowl bid the NFL has ever had."
john.mcclain@chron.com
SITES FOR SORE EYES
The past 10 Super Bowl sites, with attendance figures:
No. Year Site Att.
XXX 1996 Tempe, Ariz. 76,347
XXXI 1997 New Orleans 72,301
XXXII 1998 San Diego 68,912
XXXIII 1999 Miami 74,803
XXXIV 2000 Atlanta 72,625
XXXV 2001 Tampa, Fla. 71,921
XXXVI 2002 New Orleans 72,922
XXXVII 2003 San Diego 67,603
XXXVIII 2004 Houston 71,525
XXXIX 2005 Jacksonvlle, Fla. 78,125
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3192296
Houston, Atlanta, Tampa and Miami are finalists for Super Bowl XLIII, and league sources say that, barring a major upset, either Houston or Atlanta will be awarded a third Super Bowl.
"I feel that we've got the best bid, but that doesn't always mean you're going to be awarded the game," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "Sometimes, other things factor into it. Its a political process.
"That's why I'm not ruling out anyone.
Heavyweights from Houston's political and business arenas are going to Washington to support or participate in the 15-minute presentation Wednesday that will be followed by secret ballots until one city gets a majority.
Heading the Houston contingent are McNair, Chuck Watson, chairman of the bid committee; mayor Bill White; Harris County judge Robert Echols; consultant Robert Dale Morgan, president and CEO of 2004 Houston Super Bowl Host Committee; Don Henderson, vice president and managing director of the Hyatt-Houston; Jordy Tollett, president of Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau; Shea Guinn, president and general manager of Reliant Park; and Denis Braham, an attorney who heads the sports practice at Winstead Sechrest & Minick.
"We've received terrific support from the city and county," McNair said. "Mayor White and Judge Echols will be part of our presentation."
McNair, who serves on NFL committees, has been working behind the scenes to help Houston host its second Super Bowl in six seasons.
"I'm talking with them, writing letters doing everything I can to solicit their support," McNair said about the other 31 owners.
The 2004 Super Bowl in which New England defeated Carolina 32-29 at Reliant Stadium was regarded as a smashing success by many NFL owners and executives who were impressed by the facilities, hospitality, entertainment venues and restaurants.
"We've done a lot of work, and we think we have a great bid," said Watson, who chaired the 2004 host committee. "We think we have a great bid, but I'm impressed with all the bids."
Each city has positives and negatives.
Tampa, which has hosted three Super Bowls, might be too small for another one. Some corporate sponsors had to host parties in Orlando, where many fans also were housed.
Miami is an outstanding location, but South Florida hosts the 2007 Super Bowl, and it's unlikely the owners will vote another one there so soon. If they do, it will give Florida three in five years, including Jacksonville in 2005.
That leaves Houston and Atlanta as the 2009 front-runners. The main factor working against Atlanta is something beyond its control — bad weather.
It was extremely cold in 1994, and a freak ice storm in 2000 shut down many of the roads, which caused huge problems around the city.
"I've always believed the first card you play is your performance, and we received positive feedback on our efforts in 2004," Watson said. "We did a great job in 2004, and we can do it again.
"But we have to let the NFL know that we understand it was our first Super Bowl in a long time, and we know there's always room for improvement."
Nantz lends a voice
McNair, Watson, White and Echols will speak. Then, only the owners will remain in the room while the owner from each city makes a five-minute wrap-up speech.
Included in each city's 15-minute presentation is a highlight video promoting what the area has to offer. CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz, who attended the University of Houston and considers Houston his second home, narrated the seven-minute video.
"We think the NFL will make more money in Houston because we're agreeable to pick up more of the costs," Watson said. "What we have to offer at Reliant Stadium, Reliant Center and the Astrodome — there's nothing better for a Super Bowl venue."
Another strength is the Hilton Americas-Houston as the NFL and media headquarters. Because it's connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center, the convenience factor was unparalleled at the 2004 Super Bowl.
"We believe we've got so many great things to offer the NFL owners, corporate sponsors, the competing teams, fans and media," Watson said.
Too soon to repeat?
The Houston bid included such options as three practice sites (Texans' facility, Rice Stadium and the University of Houston) for the competing teams and three hotel areas for their headquarters (Galleria, Greenspoint and Westchase).
In 2004, heavy rain early in the week caused Patriots coach Bill Belichick to switch practice from Rice to the Texans' facility.
The Patriots were housed at the InterContinental in the Galleria, and the Panthers stayed at the Wyndham Greenspoint.
But one drawback against Houston could be that the city hosted a Super Bowl since the other finalists.
Atlanta, which has hosted two Super Bowls, four World Series and the 1996 Summer Olympics, has statesman Andrew Young narrating its video.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank is planning to enhance the Georgia Dome. Blank, who paid $545 million for the Falcons in 2002, has promised to put $150 million toward the project that includes taking out a corner of the stadium and adding a new entrance and atrium for restaurants, retail and entertainment.
Blank's plan, which could cost approximately $300 million, includes additional luxury suites and club seats.
Blank predicts the project would be completed in 2008.
In close proximity to the Georgia Dome are the Georgia World Congress Center, Phillips Arena, Centennial Olympic Park, the new World of Coke, a children's museum and the new Georgia Aquarium.
"Every city has put its best foot forward," Watson said, "and this could be the closest Super Bowl bid the NFL has ever had."
john.mcclain@chron.com
SITES FOR SORE EYES
The past 10 Super Bowl sites, with attendance figures:
No. Year Site Att.
XXX 1996 Tempe, Ariz. 76,347
XXXI 1997 New Orleans 72,301
XXXII 1998 San Diego 68,912
XXXIII 1999 Miami 74,803
XXXIV 2000 Atlanta 72,625
XXXV 2001 Tampa, Fla. 71,921
XXXVI 2002 New Orleans 72,922
XXXVII 2003 San Diego 67,603
XXXVIII 2004 Houston 71,525
XXXIX 2005 Jacksonvlle, Fla. 78,125
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3192296
