“I feel good about where we’re at,” Lamson said about the progress. “I’d like to have it done already so that we can focus on breaking ground for the stadium,” he said.

The plan is to build, without a tax initiative, a $60 million baseball stadium to house the Drillers, a Double A minor league baseball team.

The stadium, however, could also host activities other than baseball, including youth soccer, festivals, concerts and special events.

“This is a moment-in-time opportunity for Tulsa,” said Mayor Kathy Taylor. “The ballpark
is within our grasp and, if the City Council approves the assessment district, we will have shovels in the ground come fall.”

Last Wednesday, a new “preferred” site for the stadium was released, placing the ballpark in the Greenwood District nestled against Interstate 244 and bounded by Archer Street, Elgin Avenue and the backside of the stores and offices along Greenwood Avenue.

“There is a lot of evidence emerging, particularly in the US, that big, new stadiums do not necessarily equate to big, new expenditure in the local economy.

“The trend is that spending tends to shift to the new stadium from other entertainment complexes.

“The key word is additionality… does the stadium bring additional spending to a local economy? Often the answer is no.

“And when it comes to new stadiums being built at the moment, there has to be caution because we are approaching something of a recession.

“That means household budgets will be tight and planners of new stadiums should look closely at how many people they are going to attract and how much spending is going to go on.”

Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism secretary general Con Haugh wrote to the IRFU and FAI seeking assurances on being financially able to meet their end of the bargain.

The letter pointed out the Government’s contribution is capped at €191m and the rest of the funds must come from the two sporting bodies. “He has received those assurances to that effect from the IRFU and FAI,” a spokesperson for the minister said.

The minister’s spokesperson said the letter was a normal procedure in line with the prudent management of projects.

The IRFU and FAI are currently considering some “additional enhancements” to the Dublin stadium, including an underground car park.

But the Government won’t be paying for any additions to the existing plans.

The Bird’s Nest - or National Stadium - was designed by award-winning Swiss firm Herzog and de Meuron and Chinese architect Li Xinggang.

The design beat dozens of other entries in a worldwide competition held in 2003.

“The Bird’s Nest is the last completed Olympic venue but the best,” said project manager Tan Xiaochun.

The project was completed at a cost of $500m (£250m).

“You can imagine yourself to be an athlete, standing at the centre of the venue attracting thousands of eyes,” said Li Xinggang.

“You will be turned on by the audience’s cheers, feeling at the centre of a stage. It will lead you to final success.”

“The public dialogue we’ve had throughout this effort has been very encouraging, but there has not been sufficient support for the timeline that we put forth that would have resulted in a November referendum,” team president Matt Silverman said.

“One important thing that this dialogue has confirmed to us is that projects of this magnitude can not be built alone. It takes an entire region to support a major league baseball team, and it takes community vision and leadership to build a ballpark. It must be a process that brings people together.”

But building on precious waterfront property that sits on the edge of Tampa Bay would require the approval of voters.

While the Rays haven’t given up on the scenic location, the coalition will examine alternative sites, as well as discuss other ways to ensure the “long-term stability and vitality” of the franchise, Silverman said.

“I think the waterfront stadium is a viable option. I wouldn’t foreclose that as an option going forward just because I think what we want to do is step back very broadly and try to identify all the possibilities,” said Progress Energy president Jeff Lyash, who will head the coalition.

“Limerick has waited long enough for this and it’s great to have this track in the same city as our head offices. Site filling in Greenpark will begin straight away and the construction of the stadium will be put out for tender in the next two or three weeks. We would look to be having our first customers coming through the turnstiles by the first quarter of 2010,”

The intent is to have an architect and builder in place when the facilities commission (MSFC) goes to the state Legislature in January. The MSFC will give an update for what it would cost to start building a retractable-roof facility for the Minnesota Vikings in 2009, given the current economic conditions.

The project’s fate rests in the hands of state politicians, who must approve public funding for the stadium. Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf has committed to spending $250M in private money.

“We could save a year of construction if a project is approved in 2009,” Lester said. “The objective is to be in better position to get the project done and save some money.” The MSFC’s early 2007 plan to build a new downtown stadium initially pegged the price at $954M when a barrel of oil was selling for $45 to $75, Lester said.

The day will begin with a 9:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting officiated by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and other dignitaries.

Three sessions of self-guided tours will be offered: at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. As many as 40,000 people are expected. Admission is free, but tickets will be required and available through Ticketmaster beginning July 14.

Concessions will be open, and ticket scanners will be used to ensure the system is working properly. Restrooms will be open.

There is also the real possibility that, in the absence of significantly enhanced stadium capacity, Northern Ireland could be playing home internationals in other UK cities such as Glasgow.

It also warns that any decision to build a stadium for soccer only or soccer and rugby would result in a commensurate funding arrangement being offered to the GAA.

The result, therefore, could be public funding for two large stadiums, both of which might struggle for viability.

It follows the latest revelations about the proposed multi-sports stadium at the Maze.

Ministers have been warned that 10,000 jobs could be at risk if they reject plans for the development.

The Gaelic Athletic Association, Irish Football Association and Ulster Rugby have all confirmed they would play games at the venue, just outside Lisburn in County Antrim.

But the Maze site is opposed by some unionists due to plans to build a conflict transformation centre alongside the stadium and by many NI football fans who want any new stadium to be in Belfast.

Bayraktar said. “We don’t have the luxury for an alternative. In such a situation, we must cancel the contract,” the TOKI president told a gathering of reporters in the southeastern town of Batman.

“The work program did not comply and if the company does not make the necessary adjustments, a second warning notice would be sent in the first week of July. After the second notice, the company has 20 days to comply before the tender contract is cancelled at the end of the month. There is no problem if the contract is canceled, as a new tender for the construction project will be held within 14 days.”

According to the requirements of the TOKI administration, if the conditions of the tender agreement are not met by a construction company, an initial warning notice is forwarded to the firm, who must then make the necessary adjustments. Such a warning notice can lead to the cancellation of a construction agreement if the necessary conditions continue to fail to be met.

More than half of the Beijing venues are concentrated in one small area in the north of the capital known as the Olympic Green.

Four other cities will host the football tournament, yachting will take place in the Yellow Sea port city of Qingdao and Hong Kong is to hold the equestrian events.

The deal includes a 25,000 square-foot Budweiser and Bud Light branded plaza on the stadium’s north side, a 4,000 to 6,000-square-foot per level sports bar and a Budweiser and Bud Light sponsored 40-foot by 130-foot HD video display board in one of the stadium’s corners.

The Wall Street Journal put the price tag of the sponsorship at nearly $8 million per year.

The new stadium, scheduled to open in 2010, will feature only five sponsorship packages, one for each corner of the stadium and the naming rights, which has not yet been sold.

Anheuser-Busch and the Meadowlands stadium will continue to promote community outreach, such as a designated drivers program, and a recycling program.

“Whilst any delay is frustrating for the club and our supporters, we recognise that we have a complex situation and that Falkirk Community Stadium Ltd must address their three obectives of completing the stadium, repaying council loans and running a viable business,”.

“We believe the proposals and the overall strategy for the stadium site offer the best opportunity to meet these objectives. It is however very important that proposals are presented in August to both Falkirk Council members and to our board, and that there are no further postmonments.

“I would ask all our supporters to be patient and allow FCSL’s proposals to be properly completed as I have no doubt this is in the best interest of the club.”

Mr Ross … identified questions over the security of the 2012 Games, its legacy and the Olympic Village as key areas which need to be “focused on”.

Significant additional public sector funding is likely to be required to deliver the project

The report points to tighter controls on bank lending, falling house prices, increased oil and raw material costs and the threat of terrorism as factors which will add “significant pressure” to the cost of the Olympics.

Mr Ross noted difficulties in securing finance for the Olympic Village and said work was ongoing with the developer, Lend Lease, and its banks to secure private equity and debt funding.

He warned: “In all scenarios some significant additional public sector funding is likely to be required to deliver the project.”

However, he said savings made elsewhere meant there “has only been a very small increase in the overall anticipated final cost of the total programme of £16m.”

He identified that security plans were “significantly behind the rest of the planning”.

“It is absolutely vital that significant progress is made quickly on security planning so that necessary facilities are identified early enough to be provided cost effectively,” he said.

And while he said there would be transport and regeneration benefits from London hosting the games, he issued a word of caution with regards to a lasting legacy.

“I am disappointed that we find ourselves at an advanced stage of the procurement process without clear and agreed plans for legacy for a number of important venues.”

“We hope to make the final decision on the conceptual design of the stadium,” Marlins president David Samson said. “Once you have the conceptual design, that’s what enables us to go forward with the release of the renderings.”

For months, ideas have been tossed around. Soon a definitive look of the state-of-the-art park will be drawn up.

As of now, any rough sketches that may have appeared in public over the past few years are loosely drawn-up pictures.

“We feel very happy that we can get a date,” said Samson of the upcoming meeting. “This is the conceptual design of what the stadium will look like.”

The team has already said the ballpark will have a modern look, and it will incorporate the personality of the Miami area, while showing recognition to the history of the Orange Bowl and Florida baseball.

Since starting this exclusive series of stadium updates with MLB.com, Samson has encouraged stadium-related e-mail suggestions from fans. Thus far, he’s received about 1,000 e-mails, ranging from local to international.

“Some of them are very interesting and worth considering,” Samson said. “Some of them are impossible to consider, either because they are not cost effective or because they are not realistic. But I want to thank our fans from around the world who are taking this process very seriously.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Swindon Fitton said, ‘It would be good to do it (build a new stadium) for the Olympic year in 2012 which seems like a long way off but it’s not.

‘If we were moving off this site then 2012 would not be a bad target. If we stay at the County Ground then of course we may be able to move slightly faster.

‘The big decision first is ‘do we stay or do we go?’ and that decision has not been made yet.’ Fitton finished.

Trust STFC has already came up with some plans to redevelop the current County Ground site and the club may look at these in more details as the months go on.

Fitton and co. have already improved the stadium for the coming season by replacing all the broken seats with red ones and are currently looking at adding executive boxes to the ground.

Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, is asking whether the Internal Revenue Service can change its regulations and allow stadium projects such as the new Yankee Stadium to receive public-backed financing that comes with tax breaks.

Other pro teams could benefit if the IRS agrees with the New York City Industrial Development Agency and alters its policy against stadium funding.

The Yankees want additional public support from the city’s industrial development agency to be added to the $941 million in tax-exempt public bonds the organization already has issued for the $1.3 billion stadium.

“There is national interest in whether sports facilities should be funded by taxpayers,” said New York Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, a Westchester County Democrat.

Brodsky has been critical of public authorities that issue millions of dollars in financing and tax breaks.

“It’s government by Soviet-style bureaucracy,” Brodsky said Saturday.

FORMER City of York Council leader Steve Galloway has revealed that land behind York Racecourse is being considered as a site for a new community sports stadium.

In a Liberal Democrat survey form, aimed at canvassing residents on their opinion about the possibility of selling Huntington Stadium to help fund a new sports venue, Coun Galloway cites land between the former Terry’s factory and the College of Law as a potential place to relocate York City and York City Knights.

Coun Galloway, who is now city strategy executive member at Guildhall, has also told The Press that the land, known as Bustardthorpe and accessed from Bishopthorpe Road, is now a frontrunner, along with the previously-publicised site at Nestlé, as the most likely new home for the city’s football and rugby league clubs.

He said: “There is the area of land near Nestlé and land close to the racecourse known as Bustardthorpe and, at the moment, they seem to be the most likely locations for a community stadium although other sites have not been discounted. The area to the rear of the racecourse has been raised as a possibility during informal council discussions but no more than that.

“Our reason for mentioning the two sites in the survey distributed to residents in Huntington and the Westfield Ward, was to get across to people that the options will not necessarily be close to Huntington Stadium. I’ve no strong feelings either way as to where a new community stadium should be but, if you exclude Huntington Stadium, the two areas mentioned are big enough, although the area next to Nestlé is bigger and would offer more opportunities.”

As previously reported in The Press, a separate planning issue has brought stadium negotiations with Nestlé to a standstill, meaning Bustardthorpe is now likely to present the football club’s preferred home for a new stadium.

Before a recent tour of the stadium, Mr. Jones said he’d use the screens on the field to give fans a look at the action behind the scenes. They might show a player going in for X-rays after an injury.

“We can tell the whole story for them right there,” he said.

Mr. Jones also expects the massive screens to command both constant attention from fans and substantial premiums from advertisers.

“They can’t turn away, so you can hammer them with your message,” Mr. Jones said.

The mega-monitors will certainly be the most visible technology at the new stadium, but fans will see other innovations everywhere they look.

The translucent fabric of the retractable dome, for example, will act more like a parasol than a roof.

It will block the rain. It will filter the brutal August sun. But even under the dome, fans will feel like they’re outside, particularly when the Cowboys open the massive gates behind both end zones.

Indeed, with the sophisticated computerized coordination among roof, gates, fans and climate control, the stadium interior should usually feel like a shady porch on a breezy day.

When extreme heat or cold makes such illusions impossible, the team will seal off the outside and manufacture a pleasant climate.

Assurances from city manager Michael Sutcliffe that national government would either change its self-imposed standards on what infrastructure should be available, or will help fund the massive chunk of cash has however not washed with the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA).

“National government committed us to this in terms of their signing of the host cities agreement.

“I don’t know where we would find R3-billion, and I am surprised that we are still sitting with this confusion at this stage,” DA caucus leader John Steenhuisen said.

A report tabled at this week’s provincial finance and economic development oversight committee doesn’t entirely back Sutcliffe’s assurances up either, and goes on to question whether eThekwini can afford the estimated R28-billion it will have to spend on maintaining its entire 2010 infrastructure component over 50 years.

The report warns that the almost R3-billion deficit, which is mainly required for information and communications technology (ICT) and security systems, could have a major impact on municipal service delivery.

“National treasury understands that the council passed a budget including the 2010 project, with full knowledge of the present and future implications, including implications on rates and tariffs and service delivery,” the report said.

eThekwini was warned it had to move quickly to obtain firm commitments for payment from other spheres of government.

“The shortfall in the construction of the 2010 stadium and related infrastructure should be addressed as a matter of urgency. Where functions are executed on behalf of other spheres of government, the municipality should obtain firm commitments on the responsibilities of the other parties,” the report said.

“The crux of this case is whether the conflicts with policy and the dis-benefits of the scheme relating to ‘town centre and retail’ considerations outweigh or are outweighed by the benefits associated with ‘economic and regeneration’ considerations,”.

“Overall, it is concluded that the development will deliver a number of benefits that will help address the socio and economic disparities and improve quality of life for the people of Kirkby.”

Officials stated that they are “conscious of the planning weight and importance to be attached to the conflicts with retail and town centre related policies”.

“However, it is considered that the immediate need for regeneration to address the severe levels of deprivation within Kirkby, the recognition that a ’step change’ is required and the real benefits that have been identified to flow from the scheme are such to outweigh those retail/town centre policy conflicts.”

“We are absolutely delighted with the outcome, and I think the fact the vote was in no way close - 20 to 1 - shows that the Knowsley Borough councillors are ready to embrace the regeneration of the Kirkby area,” Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told the club’s official website.

“This is another major step forward for us as a football club as we seek to find a new home.”

Ian Ross, spokesman for Everton, said: “Obviously we are very pleased. That is another hurdle clear. That leaves us with one. We want to avoid a call-in by the Government.

“It was particularly rewarding that planning committee members voted 20 to one in favour. There were 21 members of the committee and 20 voted for the plans and the recommendation and one against.

“Every conceivable aspect affecting match days has been looked at from the environment, parking and the transportation of fans from Merseyside.

“We spent two years looking into this. Quite clearly the vast majority of the planning committee were quite happy with the reports sent to them.”

Drogheda United’s plans for a multimillion ‘euro stadium’ complex have got the go-ahead from councillors in Meath.

The councillors have voted to contravene their county development plan to allow the project to proceed.

The proposal includes provision for a ten thousand seater stadium on the outskirts of the town in addition to retails units, a cinema and a gym.

The club had said its future depended on the plan getting the go-ahead.

The state-of-the-art venue will replace the crumbling Stade de la Meinau, which was built in 1914 before being renovated for the European Championship in 1984.

It was the decision to overlook the stadium for both France ’98 and the Rugby World Cup of 2007 that proved to be decisive in club president Phillipe Ginestet’s decision to move to a new venue. Indeed, he wishes the new stadium to be “not simply the project of a club but a place of life which all Alsatians could use.”

In order to maximise the stadium’s usage it will be a multi-sports facility, with provisions for badminton, bowls, gyms and many more activities.

Strasbourg have tentatively suggested that the new complex could be ready for the beginning of season 2013-14 and will cost €250 million. Racing will rely on private finance to back the project while they will remain tenants of the stadium.

“We are getting very, very close to concluding our agreements with the city and the province with respects to construction of a new stadium,” Asper said at a promotion to unveil what the new seats would look and feel like for Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans yesterday. “We all know the city and province have been supportive but there’s a big gap between between saying supportive and actually putting pen to paper.”

Asper wants $40 million each from the city/province and the federal government. He plans to pay the other $40 million and pony up another $25 million for retail development on site.

Once the city and province come through, all three will then approach the feds for their share.

“We will conclude those agreements as fast as possible,” Asper said. “Then, with a collective effort, we will continue the approach to the federal government and I think we’ve made some strides there.”

“Contrary to reports, there is no interest in a shared stadium and no planned meeting to discuss this,” a spokesman for Hicks told the Liverpool Echo.

There has been speculation that a meeting is scheduled with the North West Development Agency (NWDA) to discuss the ground development situation.

The original plans included building work to begin last year, but the scheme was later revised and the construction start delayed, much to the annoyance of manager Rafael Benitez and Liverpool supporters worldwide.

With the trans-Atlantic credit crunch still eating into Hicks’ and Gillett’s funds, and manager Rafa Benitez having to sell players in order to buy, the NWDA is seeking an update on what is happening and there have been calls from politicians in the city that the clubs should share facilities to maximise benefits and minimise costs.

Without a stadium with a bigger capacity, Liverpool continue to struggle to generate the same kind of match-day revenue as Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Proposition G, the massive Hunters Point development initiative that marked San Francisco’s last best hope for keeping the team, cruised to a decisive victory Tuesday night.

More important for the project’s chances, a competing measure that sought to dramatically increase the amount of affordable housing in the development was soundly defeated. If Proposition F had passed, San Francisco officials warned, it would have scuttled the entire project - stadium included.

“We feel it’s very important for the Bayview and Hunters Point communities for this development to go forward,” the 49ers’ Lisa Lang said. “And it also holds open the possibility of an alternative site for that 49ers stadium.”

While Santa Clara and team officials still hope to craft a stadium financing agreement by July in hopes of going to the voters in November, significant financial hurdles remain.

And even as the team has intensified negotiations with Santa Clara - long considered the front-runner for the new stadium - the option to build in San Francisco appears likely to remain a viable fallback in case those talks falter.

Bristol Rovers have shelved plans to redevelop the Memorial Stadium for 12 months.

After a meeting yesterday the club said that due to the “current economic climate” the board had delayed the start of the regeneration of the Memorial Stadium.

The Evening Post reported how executives held talks with developers after a partner in the stadium plans pulled out, throwing the whole scheme into doubt.

Rovers confirmed at the weekend that Opal - which had been lined up to build the student accommodation attached to the new ground - was no longer working with the club.

Yesterday Bristol Rovers vice chairman Nick Higgs said: “We are extremely disappointed to be placed in this situation so late in the day, especially after all the hard work put in by our team it is difficult to accept.

“We did not expect this and there was no sign of it happening.

“However, we acted swiftly and opened discussions with another student accommodation provider, but unfortunately agreement could not be reached over the weekend.

“The club has decided therefore to go back to the open market, which will result in a delay of 12 months.

“Negotiations with the banks are at a detailed stage and we have agreed terms with Cheltenham Town and Bristol Rugby.”

Bristol Rovers said it had ordered a new business plan to see how staying at the Memorial Stadium will affect its coffers.

It said it had an agreement to lease some premises close to the Memorial Stadium for the temporary club offices and shop.

On Tuesday people got a chance to speak their minds on Omaha’s ballpark battle.

The city council heard from members of the public about the plan that would replace Rosenblatt Stadium with a new ballpark in downtown Omaha. While many people spent months fighting the very idea of a new stadium, they did not show up to speak before the council.

Those who did voice their opinions were worried about how the city will pay for a new stadium. A few had issues with the same subject; the direction the new stadium will face. Some plans show it facing southeast, which worries a few fans.

“To face the field in the wrong direction would have the people who chose their seats so they could see the game with the sun to their backs penalized,” says one concerned citizen.

Those who spoke up about the direction issue say home plate should face northeast, to avoid sun glare for batters and for fans. Councilman Franklin Thompson says he will look at that issue. The council will vote on the plan after more discussions.

Cove Rangers hope their application for a new stadium will boost their chances of being accepted into the SFL.

Annan Athletic, Cove, Preston Athletic and Spartans are expected to apply to replace Gretna if the Borders club are expelled from the Third Division.

Secretary Duncan Little said: “At the moment, we’re playing out of Allan Park which is not going to be suitable.

“We’ll need to see whether the SFL will allow us to play in our own place to begin with or if that will debar us.”

Cove’s application for a new stadium is currently being considered by the Scottish Executive.

However, Spartans are nearing completion of their new Scottish Football League-compliant stadium and would be considered favourites for any vacancy.

“It just depends on the criteria,” added Little.

Saints believe a move away from their ageing Knowsley Road ground is essential if they are to maintain their place in Super League from 2012.

The plans are part of a major regeneration scheme, transforming a derelict 46-acre former glass-making site into a purpose-built stadium and multi-million pound superstore.

The proposal was opposed by a rival supermarket but members of the St Helens council planning committee endorsed the application, subject to terms and conditions and a health and safety risk assessment.

The plans, which will now go forward to regional government for approval, could be the subject of a public inquiry and may yet be threatened by a condition placed on the approval requiring part of the historic site to be preserved.

David Rolinson, planning manager for the project, said: “We still need to resolve the future of the ancient monument, which at the moment the council require us to enhance but which is not viable for the scheme to support.

“We have put in four years of hard work in order to get this scheme absolutely right and are very concerned about the ancient monument issue.

“Today is, however, an important day as together these developments are set to change the face of St Helens and continue to deliver its urban renaissance.”

St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus said: “This is wonderful news for the club, its supporters and for the town of St Helens. We now look forward to a similar positive outcome from the government office for the North West.”

As part of a separate plan, Knowsley Road - home to Saints for 116 years - will be demolished to make way for housing.

The Llanelli Scarlets’ new £23million stadium is to be named Parc y Scarlets.

And the stadium’s approach will be called the “Ray Gravell legends walkway” with bricks naming every Llanelli player capped by Wales.

“We want to give this important stadium to our community,” said Scarlets managing director Gareth Davies.

“Parc y Scarlets is a name that will take the history of Stradey Park and Llanelli rugby with us into a whole new era.”

He added: “Our identity as Scarlets is so crucial to our success.

“It celebrates our independence and our passion as a rugby region and we hope will continue to project the Scarlets name and its home in Llanelli on the world stage.”

A statue of Llanelli legend Gravell will also be erected outside the south stand and other legends will be honoured in key parts of the ground.

The world of greyhound racing is said to be “stunned” this weekend after news broke that the historic Walthamstow Stadium is to close in August.

Director Charles Chandler said the decision was made to sell up due to declining visitor numbers coupled with increased costs.

The stadium has now been sold to a group of developers and looks set to host its final race in August.

John Coleman, who represents the track’s trainers, told the Racing Post he was “stunned” by the news.

“We had no inkling. Everyone expected much longer notice were anything like this to happen - perhaps August next year. But it is this August” he said.

“I never want to be too overconfident, but I’m optimistic this is our time,” Mayor Greg Ballard said last week.

Bids are kept secret, so just what sways the NFL’s 32 owners won’t be known until they vote Tuesday in Atlanta.

It’s safe to say, however, that the new $750 million Lucas Oil Stadium offers one of the best reasons for bid organizers and boosters to be confident.

The National Football League has a track record of awarding its premier event to cities that build new homes for its teams.

At last year’s owners meeting, Indianapolis lost by two votes, 17-15, after Dallas boosted the value of its bid at the last minute by adding seats and suites worth an extra $23 million to the NFL.

The deal-sweetener left Indianapolis as the first city in 20 years to lose out on its first Super Bowl bid attempt after building a game-worthy stadium.

Indianapolis’ rivals this year both have like-sized stadiums.

“With Houston and Glendale (a Phoenix suburb) having hosted a Super Bowl, Indy is certainly in the pole position,” said Don Hinchey, a vice president of the Bonham Group, a Denver sports consulting firm.

“The NFL recognizes it has to spread the wealth and recognize the building of a new stadium.”

A new stadium also helps push aside questions about the weather.

Bob Sullivan, president of the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, said the 2006 Super Bowl in Detroit, held four years after it built a new stadium, showed that a new facility can outweigh the pull of golf and sunshine in the winter.

“I can’t disagree with the track record,” Sullivan said. “If you want to have a party, the venue is important, and a new stadium is attractive.”

Greg Ortale, president of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and a member of the Texas city’s host committee, agreed.

“I think you would have to assume Indianapolis is the favorite with the new stadium and the fact that the Irsays have been in the league a long time,” Ortale said.