In news that should surprise nobody, reports have surfaced that the San Francisco 49ers will place a bid to host Super Bowl L in their new Santa Clara stadium. The Super Bowl would follow the 2015 season and mark 50 years of Super Bowl history.
The NFL will begin accepting bids for Super Bowl L this summer, figure out finalists in the fall, and potentially announce the host site in May 2013. The honor requires a team play in their stadium for two seasons, and the 49ers will be completing their second season in 2015. The opening date of the new Santa Clara stadium has been a bit up in the air, but with financing completed and groundbreaking scheduled for next week, the team is confident they will be able to open in time for the 2014 season.
The NFL is hosting the next three Super Bowls in New Orleans, New Jersey and Glendale, Arizona. There had been speculation that Los Angeles would get Super Bowl L when they got their new stadium figured out. That process has dragged on longer than previously expected, likely eliminating their chances at hosting the game. As long as the 49ers stadium is able to open by the start of the 2014 season, the team should be considered the favorite to host Super Bowl L.