Arizona to be the Location for Super Bowl 2015

The NFL announced that Arizona will host Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 after NFL owners voted for Arizona ahead of Tampa Bay.

Arizona last hosted the Super Bowl in 2008 when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII. Tampa Bay last hosted Super Bowl XLIII in 2009 when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 on Feb. 1. South Florida has held the most Super Bowls at 10.

The Tampa Super Bowl committee bought a billboard in Houston, asking owners to bring the Super Bowl back to Florida.

Arizona won by simple majority after the second ballot. To win on the first ballot, a region needed 75% of owners to sign off.

The Arizona Super Bowl committee found in a study presented to the owners that Super Bowl XLII generated $500 million in commerce for the region. University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., also hosted the last BCS national championship game on Jan. 10.

Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwell, said: “We’re delighted that the NFL has chosen Arizona, I think it’s going to be a great economic impact this time around in 2015 to give our community something to really rally around over the next couple of years as we go through these economic times.”

Super Bowl XLVI will be held in Indianapolis on Feb. 5, followed by New Orleans and East Rutherford, N.J., site of the first outdoor Super Bowl in a cold-weather city. The NFL announced Tuesday that Super Bowl XLVIII at the New Jersey Meadowlands will be held on Feb. 2, 2014, Groundhog’s Day.