After a hard-fought effort to secure public financing for a new Vikings stadium, National Football League owners rewarded the team and the state Tuesday by awarding the 2018 Super Bowl to Minneapolis.
The owners, meeting in Atlanta, also heard proposals from New Orleans and Indianapolis before granting the game, Super Bowl LII (or 52), to Minneapolis.
The new stadium will be fully constructed and in use by July 2016.
The team will play at the University of Minnesota stadium for the next two years during construction of the $1 billion covered stadium on the site of the old Metrodome.
Minneapolis has hosted one other Super Bowl, the 1992 game that was held in the Dome.
Gov. Mark Dayton said this after the NFL’s announcement Tuesday afternoon:
“On behalf of all Minnesotans, I want to thank Co-Chairs Doug Baker, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, and Richard Davis, and the Minnesota Vikings, for their superb and successful efforts to bring the 2018 Super Bowl to Minnesota. Hosting the Super Bowl will provide a terrific opportunity to showcase Minnesota to the world. It will also bring major economic benefits to our state.”
