New Orleans Named Finalist In Bid For 2018 Super Bowl

New Orleans has been named a finalist to host Super Bowl LII in 2018, according to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.

The New Orleans Saints organization and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation will partner in making the official bid which, if awarded, would be the city's 11th Super Bowl and coincide with New Orleans' Tri-centennial that year.

"The Super Bowl is a celebration of unparalleled magnitude. What better time for New Orleans to host its record 11th Super Bowl than during a party 300 years in the making?" said Jay Cicero, Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation president and CEO, in the organization's press release. "New Orleans’ reputation as a Super Bowl host is second to none. We are excited to begin the official bid process to showcase our city’s unique culture, spirit and love of major events once again to the NFL."

Cicero also thanked the Benson family and the Saints organization.

The bid process will begin as soon as the finalist cities receive the bid documents from the NFL, and will conclude in May 2014. The final process includes a presentation to all 32 NFL owners.

"Having hosted 10 Super Bowls, our community recognizes the sizeable economic impact and exposure that this event delivers, and each year the number of cities seeking consideration to host increases," said Cicero. "If invited, the New Orleans Saints and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation will showcase New Orleans as the premier city for the largest and most successful annual sporting event in the world."

Indianapolis and Minneapolis are the other two finalist cities.

"2018 will be a very special time for New Orleans as we mark our 300^th anniversary, and we’d love to celebrate by having the Super Bowl return to New Orleans for the 11^th time," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a separate press release. "I have no doubt that if we’re chosen, our tourism industry, our business community and our citizens will once again rise to the challenge and present the world with another spectacular Super Bowl."

This post has been updated.