It Takes a Super Bowl Village

In naming Indianapolis as the host of the 2012 Super Bowl, National Football League officials cited the city’s plan to revitalize an impoverished neighborhood by building a high-quality new practice facility that would be turned over for public use after the game.

The city’s winning bid also promoted its new $700 million Lucas Oil Stadium, set to open in August, and a plan to transform the downtown area into a pedestrian-friendly “Super Bowl Village” with fire pits to combat the expected cold temperatures.

As part of its bid, Indianapolis said it would build a new $9 million athletic facility in a destitute neighborhood and turn the facility over to Indianapolis Public Schools after the game.

“That’s a facility that will be used for many generations by people who play sports,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was quoted as saying in local medial reports. “I think that’s a great thing for the NFL and the community.”

The city’s bid committee has reportedly already raised $25 million in private pledges for the new facility and the Super Bowl Village plan.

The Super Bowl is estimated to bring in more than $300 million in revenues, including more than $30 million in state and local tax revenue, according to a report by Ball State University. New Republican Mayor Greg Ballard estimated the city would have to pay up to $2 million to meet government regulations for public safety. In addition, under NFL rules, cities that host the Super Bowl are required to waive sales and hotel tax on hotel rooms reserved by the league.

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