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The pledged dollars reflect San Francisco’s eagerness to host its first Super Bowl since 1985, and organizers have portrayed the corporate money as proof of a community ready to welcome the NFL with financial support.
“We had a goal of raising $15 million by the time the bids were due,” said P.J. Johnston, a spokesman for the San Francisco Super Bowl committee. “We doubled that.”
For its Super Bowl bid, San Francisco sent NFL team owners evidence of an alliance between two hometown tech rivals.
When owners open a customized iPad Mini by Apple, they will see a video endorsement by Google Chairman Eric Schmidt and promises of the most tech-savvy Super Bowl ever.
San Francisco has a rough budget of $50 million for its Super Bowl plans, Johnston said, though the finances would not be finalized until after the bid is awarded. South Florida said it plans to spend about $21 million on Super Bowl 50.
Add in various government services (such as free police) and tax breaks (such as exempting Super Bowl tickets from state sales tax), and South Florida’s bid committee estimates its package is worth about $36 million for the NFL.
The core $21 million price tag is roughly double the $10 million raised for past Super Bowls in South Florida, which Barreto said was justified given the milestone status of the 50th game.
Should South Florida lose to San Francisco for Super Bowl 50 but beat out Houston for the 51st game, Barreto said the plan would be scaled back.
“We’re not going to go through this whole blowout [plan] for 51,” he said. “I want to do it for 50.”
Without the Sun Life renovations, Barreto said South Florida will rely on history to make its case. At the moment, South Florida and New Orleans are tied for hosting the most Super Bowls, each with 10 games in their past.
“It’s old school versus high-tech,” he said. “I think our bid is really, really hyped for what has happened over the previous Super Bowls. More of the history. That we’ve been partners. We’ve been part of the family.”
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