PHOENIX -- Reports say the choice of Las Vegas as the host city of Super Bowl LXIII in February 2029 is a formality.
If that happens, the Titans would view it as a good thing for their long-term future as a Super Bowl host.
Relatively quick returns to Los Angeles and Las Vegas may signify Nashville has an even better chance to be a regular, rotational city for the big game.
If Las Vegas gets 2029, Nashville will likely be the favorite to host a year later. The Titans will have completed three seasons in new Nissan Stadium before Super Bowl LXIV in February 2030
Regarded as modern jewels, SoFi and Allegiant Stadiums will host their second Super Bowl in just five years.
“That lines up with our aspirations for Nashville,” said Burke Nihill, Titans president and CEO. “You do it really, really well the first time and they want to bring it back. It’s one thing to get one Super Bowl. But we’d like to be the type of host that they want to come back to.
“Our objective has never been to get a Super Bowl as soon as possible. It’s been to get a Super Bowl when the city is ready to earn future Super Bowls like these other cities are doing.”
Nihill said there was never a concern from the NFL about the capacity of Nissan Stadium, which will be around 60,000. But in a tour of the construction site last week, he spoke of additional seats that can be added.
For a Super Bowl, he told me, the building can add “thousands” of seats, but will not reach 70,000.
In terms of other logistical matters, he said Nashville meets the league requirements for hotels, event spaces and infrastructure. While there certainly would be work to be done to meet some league criteria, no major projects would be required.
Five-year repeat cycles may not be realistic for long, as there are a lot of stadiums coming online. Washington seems sure to get a Super Bowl once the Commanders have a new stadium. Jacksonville is basically building a new venue and has hosted before. Chicago and Kansas City are further off but could be one-off cold-weather candidates.
Other venues may need major renovations or upgrades to get games again.
Some warm-weather host cities have waited between eight and 13 years between Super Bowls and would qualify as Nashville’s competition.
Here’s the last year those cities hosted a Super Bowl (calendar year, not season):
Atlanta: 2019 has Super Bowl LXII in February 2028
Houston: 2017
Miami: 2020
Tampa: 2021
Glendale, Ariz.: 2023
New Orleans: 2025
Santa Clara, Calif.: 2026
