Valley set to make pitch for 2012 Super Bowl

Ever since the Cardinals landed in Phoenix in 1988, Valley residents have clamored for the Super Bowl to make a regular stop here.

With winter temperatures in the 70s, numerous five-star resorts, world-class golf courses and a thriving night life, the Phoenix metro area offered almost everything the NFL wanted for its marquee event.

The one missing ingredient, in the past, was a stadium that measured up to Super Bowl standards.

While Super Bowl XXX was played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, the state didn't land another big game until University of Phoenix Stadium was built.

Now that the Cardinals play in a state-of-the art facility, everything seems to be in place for the Valley to join Super Bowl regulars New Orleans and Miami. Those two cities have each hosted the Super Bowl nine times - or an average of once every 4.7 years.

The Cardinals and the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee would be happy to settle for once every four to six years.

Their first chance to fit another game into that window comes today when they, along with delegations from Houston and Indianapolis, make their pitch for the 2012 game to the league's 32 owners in Atlanta.

With a new stadium in tow, Indianapolis is the favorite to land the game, as cities with new stadiums are generally rewarded. A decision is expected around midday.

"There's no question that we are in the Super Bowl business," host committee president Bob Sullivan said. "That stadium was built for Super Bowls."

Eager to start planning for the Valley's third Super Bowl, the host committee put in a bid last year for the 2011 game as well but knew it was a long shot.

"While there is some limited precedent for a three- or four-year interval, more commonly it's a five- or six-year interval," host committee chairman Mike Kennedy said. "We're a little bit on the front end of the window. We felt that last year, trying to get 2011 as well, but the reality is we want the NFL and the NFL owners to know that. ... We want to host it when they want to come."

The shortest period between hosting Super Bowls since the 1970 season, when the NFL and AFL merged, is three years, which has happened multiple times, most recently by New Orleans in 1978 and '81.

Miami hosted the game in 2007 and will put its name on the list again in 2010.

New Orleans (1986 and '90) also hosted two games within a four-year time frame. The host committee is confident that Glendale can be the next city to do so.

"Last year, when we didn't get the game, numerous owners came up to myself and Mike Kennedy and said, 'We're coming back,' " Sullivan said.

So the return of the Super Bowl is no longer a matter of if, but when.

With Super Bowl XLII, "we have proven again that we know how to host this game. ... We would love for the NFL to come back," Sullivan said.

And soon.