NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The New Orleans Saints and the state of Louisiana have missed a key application deadline for the 2031 Super Bowl, effectively taking the city out of the running to host the NFL\u2019s biggest event.<\/p>\n
ORIGINAL STORY: Saints, state miss NFL deadline, jeopardizing 2031 Super Bowl bid<\/a><\/p>\n Securing a Super Bowl often takes years of planning, pitches and partnerships. Jay Cicero, who played a central role in the host committee for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, said the groundwork begins long before game day.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took a long time. The buildup, and the fundraising effort, the public relations effort, all the planning is years in the making,\u201d said Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.<\/p>\n With hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, major football cities are competing to host. Some strengthen their bids by building new stadiums. New Orleans\u2019 chances for 2031 are complicated by the fact that the Saints and Louisiana officials have yet to finalize a long-term lease for the Superdome. Without that agreement, Cicero said, a bid is unrealistic.<\/p>\n \u201cMy understanding is the current lease only runs through 2030. So, it only makes sense that if you\u2019re bidding on a Super Bowl beyond 2030, they\u2019re certainly not going to award that to a team. It really says it all right there. Without the lease extension there\u2019s not going to be a Super Bowl bid beyond that date,\u201d Cicero said.<\/p>\n MORE: Allen Iverson to host book signing event at Baldwin & Co. bookstore in New Orleans Oct. 10<\/a><\/p>\n New Orleans has hosted the Super Bowl 11 times. Ahead of last year\u2019s game, Saints owner Gayle Benson and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell both praised the city\u2019s track record.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I am sure he cannot admit out loud, I have no doubt New Orleans is his favorite Super Bowl location,\u201d Benson said in November 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cClearly, we love coming here to this city and this stadium. Just look around us, it\u2019s absolutely miraculous what you all have done,\u201d Goodell said at the time.<\/p>\n That relationship between Benson and Goodell may be critical in reviving any chance for a 2031 bid. Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said in a statement to FOX 8 that the team is still working to finalize the lease extension.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we missed the deadline, we are working to finalize this stadium lease extension very soon. The Saints and the state are valued partners that work together. We are hopeful for a quick resolution and then Mrs. Benson can reconnect with the commissioner to hopefully get us back in the mix,\u201d Bensel said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt sounds like it\u2019s going to take a Herculean effort by Mrs. Benson,\u201d Cicero added.<\/p>\n MORE: New Orleans Saints surprise Long Beach Bearcats football team with equipment<\/a><\/p>\n Because of the timing of future Mardi Gras celebrations and other events, Cicero said 2031 is the best year for New Orleans to host a Super Bowl. <\/p>\n For now, though, those chances are slim.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here<\/a> to report it. Please include the headline.<\/p>\n