As Super Bowl XLIX approaches and thousands prepare to descend on Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale to sleep in hotels, eat at restaurants, and drink in bars (or some other combination of those activities and places), the mayor of the city that will physically host the Super Bowl is complaining about the costs of doing so.
Via SI.com, Jerry Weiers claims that Glendale will lose money on the game. He also contends that the city lost money the last time the Super Bowl was hosted at University of Phoenix Stadium, in 2008. (Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill calls that contention “mularkey,” a word that isn’t used nearly as much as it should be.)
Here’s the solution, Mayor Weiers. If the costs exceed the benefits, don’t bid on the game.
If Glendale doesn’t want the game, someone else will. It’s the premier American sporting event, and the international exposure and influx of visitors more than outweighs the expense. If that weren’t the case, the process of securing the game would be far less competitive than it is.