Dayton Announces Campaign to Host 2018 Super Bowl

Work on the new Vikings stadium has barely begun, but Gov. Mark Dayton and the team have already launched a bid to host the 2018 Super Bowl.

Dayton announced on Monday that there is an organized campaign to pursue Super Bowl LII, which takes place Feb. 4, 2018.

“The Super Bowl is the most watched annual event in the world.  In addition to game attendees, it brings over 100,000 people to the host community for a weeklong celebration,” a release quoted Dayton.  “Hosting the Super Bowl would bring enormous economic benefits to many Minnesota businesses, as well as provide a terrific opportunity to again showcase Minnesota to the world.”

The release quoted a Rockport Analytics study that found that Super Bowl XLVI had an economic impact of $324 million dollars on the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

The governor named three business people to head the campaign:

• Doug Baker: Chairman and CEO of Ecolab
• Marilyn Carlson Nelson: former chairwoman and CEO of Carlson
• Richard Davis: Chairman/president/CEO of U.S. Bancorp

The steering committee will also include: Lester Bagley, Minnesota Vikings; DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben; Michele Kelm-Helgen, Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority; Rob Moor, Minnesota Timberwolves; and Melvin Tennant, Meet Minneapolis.

The NFL had earlier announced that Minnesota is one of three finalists for the Super Bowl. Indianapolis and New Orleans are also competing for the event.

On Thursday, Bagley told the Minnesota Sports Facilities Commission that Minnesota has a good shot at hosting the Super Bowl since the NFL has a history of rewarding cities that build new stadiums.

Super Bowl bids are due April 1, and the Vikings are working with the hospitality and business community, Bagley said. The announcement will be made at the end of May.