Arizona is preparing to make another pitch to NFL owners for hosting the Super Bowl in 2013.The state is competing with Miami and New Orleans for the big game.
Representatives from the three competing areas will deliver 15-minute presentations at Tuesday's NFL owners meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., followed by five-minute pitches from team owners.
Bob Sullivan, president of the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, said he will lay out for the league the state's amenities and track record hosting the 1996 Super Bowl in Tempe and the 2008 game in Glendale, both deemed successes by the NFL.
"This is a sure thing out here," Sullivan said. "We don't have any wild cards."
The last Super Bowl in Glendale brought in $500 million to the local economy, according to a study commissioned by the host committee.
Last year, Sullivan was making calls until the last minute to corral commitments from hotels and resorts for the 19,000 hotel rooms the bid requires. With the recession hitting the local tourism industry, enough rooms were pledged by early April this year.
Room rates fell in the middle price range, according to Sullivan, higher than New Orleans' but lower than Miami's.
Sullivan cited other strengths including the Phoenix-area's solid record hosting big events and its newly opened light-rail system, a weakness in 2008 when downtown Phoenix was torn up with construction.
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