Another Las Vegas Super Bowl? NFL looks forward to coming back

Although there is no official Super Bowl host city rotation list, Las Vegas is sure to find itself holding another big game following the overwhelming success of the event this year.

During a handoff ceremony Monday at the Mandalay Bay, where Las Vegas transferred the responsibilities of hosting the Super Bowl to New Orleans, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stopped short of guaranteeing the biggest live sporting vent in America would again occur in Sin City.

“The hospitality here, you outdid it,” Goodell said. “I think it’s safe to say the NFL looks forward to coming back.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: “It’s safe to say the NFL looks forward to coming back.” #vegas #nfl #superbowl pic.twitter.com/8QjjfNsctl

— Mick Akers (@mickakers) February 12, 2024

The news conference included a list of dignitaries, including Goodell; Gov. Joe Lombardo; Jim Gibson, Clark County commissioner; Sandra Douglass Morgan, Las Vegas Raiders president; Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Sam Joffray, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee; Gayle Benson, New Orleans Saints owner; and Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser.

Sunday’s sellout crowd of 61,629 was treated to an overtime thriller, won by the Kansas City Chiefs 25-22, with the city living up to the massive hype of hosting the game in the entertainment capital of the world.

Officials from the state, city and Clark County came together to pull off such a large event and aided in this year’s success, according to Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president, club business, international and league events.

“Spectacular, this definitely met and exceeded all of our expectations in terms of Super Bowl,” O’Reilly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal following the news conference. “Operationally very smooth and a showcase moment on Sunday that was really epic. From the moment we got into our NFL control early Sunday morning, to see people smoothly come in, see the stadium fill, and feel the energy through pregame, and then just one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time and then to see people safely exit. Las Vegas definitely rose to the occasion.”

After the big game, and the over 300 events during Super Bowl week, there were no major issues reported during Southern Nevada’s first shot as hosting.

The 2025 Super Bowl will mark New Orleans’ 11th time hosting the big game, tying Miami for the most in NFL history.

With the success of the event and its projected up to $1 billion in revenue generation, state and local leaders made a point to let Goodell know they want the game back as soon as possible.

“I will take this opportunity and in governor discretion, to ask the commissioner (Goodell) to forgo their (NFL) rotation plans of the Super Bowl and maybe get them here sooner than later,” Lombardo said.

The message didn’t fall on deaf ears, as Goodell said their wishes were dully noted.

“I think I got the message about having another Super Bowl in Las Vegas,” Goodell said.

Although there is much talk of a “Super Bowl rotation list,” including by Lombardo, O’Reilly said one does not actually exist. Each host city is awarded the Super Bowl following a successful bid on the big game.

“It’s a process with each Super Bowl that is voted on by NFL ownership,” O’Reilly said. “Cities express interest, but there is no rotation in place. … This market clearly wants to have a Super Bowl back and we’ll have those conversations, but there is not a Super Bowl rotation. But they (state and local leaders) certainly put a great foot forward with their first-ever Super Bowl.”

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.

For photos and more details visit ReviewJournal.com