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{{cquote|Typically, according to Baade’s research (PDF) and supported by related studies, Super Bowl host cities see a negative rate of return. 'If you do a pure economic evaluation, we may be able to cover the explicit costs…but we can’t make the argument that accommodating the Super Bowl is actually better than anything else.'}}

{{cquote|Typically, according to Baade’s research (PDF) and supported by related studies, Super Bowl host cities see a negative rate of return. 'If you do a pure economic evaluation, we may be able to cover the explicit costs…but we can’t make the argument that accommodating the Super Bowl is actually better than anything else.'}}

At best, only a handful of warm-weather cities which are tourist destinations in and of themselves possibly benefit from hosting a Super Bowl.  An example of a city that has done so successfully is [[New Orleans]], which has a large indoor stadium (the Mercedes-Benz Superdome) that has hosted numerous large-scale events, including six of the seven prior Super Bowls held in the city.  Yet the NFL decided '''''not''''' to award Super Bowl LII in 2018 to New Orleans—which was celebrating its tri-centennial that year, and was clearly able to host both it and the Super Bowl—and instead awarded it to cold-weather Minneapolis-St. Paul as they were able to connive taxpayers into building a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings franchise.

At best, only a handful of warm-weather cities which are tourist destinations in and of themselves possibly benefit from hosting a Super Bowl.  An example of a city that has done so successfully is [[New Orleans]], which has a large indoor stadium (the Mercedes-Benz Superdome) that has hosted numerous large-scale events, including six of the seven prior Super Bowls held in the city.  Yet the NFL decided '''''not''''' to award Super Bowl LII in 2018 to New Orleans—which was celebrating its tri-centennial that year, and was clearly able to host both it and the Super Bowl—and instead awarded it to cold-weather Minneapolis-St. Paul as they were able to connive taxpayers into building a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings franchise.<ref>The stadium itself is now controversial: the glass lacks reflective coatings which prevent migratory birds from flying into it, and is now heavily criticized by conservationist organizations.</ref>

The 2018 Super Bowl showed an attendance anomaly—attendance was reported at 70,081, nearly 3,000 '''''fewer''''' fans than attended the MLS Cup (Major League Soccer final) in the same stadium two months prior, notwithstanding that 1) the Super Bowl was played in Atlanta, home to the world's busiest airport (thus, travel to and from the game would not have been an issue), 2) the Super Bowl featured two large-market teams—the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots, and 3) the general lack of interest in soccer among American fans, especially in the American South where football is widely popular.<ref>https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/super-bowl-fails-to-draw-more-fans-than-mls-cup-final-at-same-stadium?fbclid=IwAR3D0_K6N4RiP649kmiqpQhcmZKu9ajxlf7URdDNQxkoxobW9fuIvGjBjOY</ref><ref>It should be noted that the MLS Cup featured a local franchise, Atlanta United FC, in the final.</ref>  The 2019 Super Bowl was even worse: the reported attendance was the '''''second-lowest''''' ever, behind only the first Super Bowl (which at that time was called the "NFL-AFL Championship Game") and notwithstanding its playing in South Florida, a popular tourist destination due to warm climate.<ref>However, it was a sellout as the venue -- Hard Rock Stadium -- was recently renovated to '''''lower''''' overall seating capacity.</ref>

The 2018 Super Bowl showed an attendance anomaly—attendance was reported at 70,081, nearly 3,000 '''''fewer''''' fans than attended the MLS Cup (Major League Soccer final) in the same stadium two months prior, notwithstanding that 1) the Super Bowl was played in Atlanta, home to the world's busiest airport (thus, travel to and from the game would not have been an issue), 2) the Super Bowl featured two large-market teams—the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots, and 3) the general lack of interest in soccer among American fans, especially in the American South where football is widely popular.<ref>https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/super-bowl-fails-to-draw-more-fans-than-mls-cup-final-at-same-stadium?fbclid=IwAR3D0_K6N4RiP649kmiqpQhcmZKu9ajxlf7URdDNQxkoxobW9fuIvGjBjOY</ref><ref>It should be noted that the MLS Cup featured a local franchise, Atlanta United FC, in the final.</ref>  The 2019 Super Bowl was even worse: the reported attendance was the '''''second-lowest''''' ever, behind only the first Super Bowl (which at that time was called the "NFL-AFL Championship Game") and notwithstanding its playing in South Florida, a popular tourist destination due to warm climate.<ref>However, it was a sellout as the venue -- Hard Rock Stadium -- was recently renovated to '''''lower''''' overall seating capacity.</ref>