Indianapolis takes aim at 2011 Super Bowl

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ More than a dozen construction cranes operated high overhead at the concrete shell of the Indianapolis Colts' new stadium Wednesday, while just blocks away city leaders announced

Wednesday, January 31st 2007, 9:09 pm

By: News On 6

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ More than a dozen construction cranes operated high overhead at the concrete shell of the Indianapolis Colts' new stadium Wednesday, while just blocks away city leaders announced their drive to bring in a Super Bowl.

City officials had talked for more than two years about perhaps bidding for the 2011 Super Bowl as plans progressed toward building the $675 million retractable-roof stadium. The formal announcement let officials make their pitch amid the buzz surrounding the Colts trip to Miami for Sunday's NFL title game.

Organizers plan to showcase the city's experience with other large sporting events _ from the Indianapolis 500 to the NCAA men's basketball Final Four _ to offset being a snow-belt city.

``We know how to do this,'' Mayor Bart Peterson said. ``We will do this right. We will have the best bid.''

Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke by satellite hookup from Miami with those at the announcement ceremony, pledging $1 million toward what city officials expect will be $25 million needed to host the Super Bowl.

Irsay said he would work aggressively with the city to win over NFL owners when they make their site selection this spring.

``I will make every effort I can,'' he said. ``The organization will make every effort we can to deliver this for Indiana and Indianapolis.''

Peterson and Irsay will be joined by Gov. Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George as co-chairmen of the bid committee. Indianapolis attorney Fred Glass, who led the city's negotiations on a new 30-year stadium lease with the Colts, will be the group's president.

Dallas-area officials launched an effort in November for the 2011 game, with previous Super Bowl hosts Phoenix and New Orleans mentioned as other possible bidders.

``I think it is really going to come down to us and Dallas, where, by the way, it's snowing today,'' Glass said after Wednesday's announcement. ``We're not competing against San Diego. We're not competing against Miami. The NFL has shown it is willing to go to cold-weather cities when they have domes, particularly new domes. I think we stack up real well against Dallas.''

Those working on the Dallas bid are promoting the Cowboys' new stadium, along with the football history of Texas and the amenities available in one of the country's largest metro areas.

``We've had the Final Four here, we've just had the NHL All-Star game here,'' said Brian Mays, a spokesman for the North Texas bid committee. ``The region itself is know for hosting really large conventions really well.''

The experience Indianapolis has with large crowds _ more than 500,000 people a year attend the Indy 500, NASCAR and Formula One races at the speedway _ and numerous national and international championships will help its Super Bowl bid, said George, the track's owner.

``We have a lot of success stories to tell with big events we've hosted,'' he said. ``Certainly with the three races taking place annually, we have a lot of experience in welcoming people to this community.''

Construction began in late 2005 on Lucas Oil Stadium, across the street from the RCA Dome, which has been the Colts' home since moving to Indianapolis in 1984. The new stadium is expected to open for the 2008 season, with a seating capacity of 63,000 that could be expanded to 70,000 to host a Super Bowl.

The city, which lost out to Minneapolis for the 1992 game, has until April 2 to formally submit a bid. The process includes securing 27,000 hotel rooms, finding locations for dozens of events and outlining how to accommodate fans and media attending.

The 32 NFL team owners likely will choose the location for the 2011 game at their meeting May 21-23 in Nashville, Tenn. The Super Bowl has been in a northern city only three times in its 41-year history _ and the next three are in Florida or Arizona.

Peterson, who will travel to Miami for the Super Bowl on Friday, said he did not plan any heavy lobbying on the city's game bid with NFL owners, but that he and others would be paying close attention to details from traffic control and security to entertainment and media center arrangements.

``This will give us a chance to actually see how it plays out, and I think that will inform the polishing up of our bid,'' he said. ``It is going to be about making the case on why we would do a better job than anybody else in hosting the Super Bowl.''