Vikings: Minneapolis one of three finalists for 2018 Super Bowl

Minneapolis is one of three finalists to host Super Bowl LII in 2018, the NFL announced Tuesday. The league will choose between finalists Minneapolis, Indianapolis and New Orleans in May.

Minnesota Vikings president Mark Wilf on Monday pitched NFL officials on the Twin Cities hosting the game in the team's new stadium, set to open in 2016. Super Bowl LII is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2018.

At the NFL owners meeting in Washington, D.C., Wilf submitted the application to the Super Bowl advisory committee for a three-year window to host the NFL's championship game.

Miami, Dallas and Tampa also submitted bids.

Indianapolis and New Orleans served as hosts for the past two Super Bowls.

"This is a significant first step in bringing the world's marquee sporting event to Minnesota," Wilf said. "With the outstanding hospitality community in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and the opening of the new state-of-the-art stadium, this is a perfect fit. We look forward to working with state and local leaders to secure this major event in Minnesota."
Vikings vice president Lester Bagley emphasized that the Twin Cities is equipped to be a good host despite Minnesota's harsh winter. The new stadium will be connected to a skyway that provides access throughout downtown Minneapolis. Currently, the skyway covers 69 city blocks and 11 miles.

"Governor Dayton is very excited for this opportunity to showcase Minnesota's stadium to the world," said Matt Swenson, the governor's press secretary. "Minnesota hosted the Super Bowl in 1992, which provided tremendous economic benefit to our state. If Minnesota is chosen to host the Super Bowl in 2018, the economic impact would be even greater.

"Governor Dayton will do anything he possibly can to help our state be successful in this effort to bring the Super Bowl to Minnesota."

Bagley added that Meet Minneapolis also has submitted a bid for the 2017 BCS College Football Championship and a future NCAA Final Four.

"This great news is the culmination of years of work, but the real work begins now," said Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis. "Meet Minneapolis was one of the first business organizations to step up and support the new stadium. Now we're poised to join the Vikings in taking the ball over the goal line for the city of Minneapolis and bring the Super Bowl to our community."

Bagley said the new stadium gives the Twin Cities a major advantage.

"We've got great a market, we've got a great hospitality infrastructure, we've got great venues, and we're going to deliver one of the best game-day experiences in the NFL," Bagley said. "Our state has stepped up, and one of the reasons they stepped up was to build a facility that's multi-purpose.

"We've got seats and premium spaces that are closer to the action than any other NFL stadium."

Reported by:  TwinCities.com