Tampa has stepped in as the host of the 2021 Super Bowl after delays to the construction of Los Angeles Stadium.
The venue at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, which features in the city’s bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, has experienced delays after record rainfall reportedly caused flooding at the site in Southern California.
Construction had been expected to be complete in 2019, but the finish date has now been pushed back a year.
The National Football League (NFL) require a stadium to have been open for two seasons before they can stage the Super Bowl.
The Los Angeles Stadium had been selected to stage the 2021 Super Bowl last May.
However, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa will now stage the 2021 event, with Los Angeles hosting the 2022 edition.
As part of the 2024 bid, the Los Angeles Stadium would hold the formal Opening Ceremony.
A simultaneous event has also been planned at the Los Angeles Coliseum, which was the main stadium used in the 1932 and 1984 Games.
Proceedings would then switch round for the Closing Ceremony, with the Coliseum hosting the formal event with another event being held alongside at the Los Angeles Stadium.
The state-of-the-art stadium was expected due to be completed in 2019 and could become the most expensive sporting venue in the world.
Designed by architectural firm HKS, it will be covered with a transparent roof and will have seating for between 70,000 and 100,000 spectators.
The estimated cost of the venue currently stands at $2.6 billion.
“From our standpoint, we felt this was an appropriate thing to do,” said Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner.
“We were fortunate that Tampa had a very competitive presentation when they bid on the Super Bowl earlier in 2016.
“So, this was a solution the membership got on very quickly.”
The Los Angeles Stadium is set to become the home ground of the NFL teams the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers from 2019.
“As work continues on the transformational sports and entertainment district being built at Hollywood Park, we are looking forward to moments such as a grand opening during the Summer of 2020 and the Super Bowl’s return to Los Angeles after nearly three decades,” said Kevin Demoff, Los Angeles Rams chief executive.
“In the past week, we have worked with the NFL on the resolution that was presented today and are supportive of the NFL owners’ decision to play Super Bowl LV in Tampa and to have Los Angeles host Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
“Over the next 90 days, we will continue to work with our partners across the Los Angeles region, including the Chargers, to deliver the elements promised in the bid that was approved last year.”
U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis the 2018 Super Bowl, before Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium stages the 2019 event.
Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida will host in 2020.
By Michael Pavitt
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.