Super Bowl XLIV is over (congrats, New Orleans!), and the prep work for Super Bowl XLV is underway.
North Texas officials in town last week were generally impressed with South Florida, but except for beaches, they said they didn’t see much they couldn’t match or even improve upon. Their goal is to prove that their region has just as much right to the nation’s biggest sporting event as other areas – including South Florida and New Orleans – that have hosted the Super Bowl over and over.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said he hopes to see the Super Bowl show up in Arlington every few years, and he said he thinks that his new $1.15 billion stadium could play a part in that.
“I think just the fact that North Texas is going to be recognized for the kind of interest we have in sports … and Cowboys Stadium is going to have such a prominent role,” Jones said.
Michael Morris, a regional transportation official and member of the North Texas host committee, said he thought that South Florida did many things right, but he wondered whether complacency had set in.
“I think they are still thinking the Super Bowl will be here forever,” he said.
Classy. Well, good luck to you anyway. It’s always a joy to invite the world in to see your place and then find out what they think of you. More here.
Clearly, I’m biased, but I just don’t see how they’re going to manage a great Super Bowl experience in North Texas. The nightlife scene (in Dallas) is FAR removed from Jerry World. I think people will be spending more time in their cars than enjoying the festivities. And while I understand DART is a great rail system, I don’t think it ties in those locations effectively.
Success or not, I just hope it helps Houston get another Super Bowl.
Dallas can’t match Miami’s beaches or its weather. Heck, they can’t even match Houston’s weather for the Super Bowl – but just for Dallas’ sake I’ll hope they don’t get an ice storm next year…