Should Indiana host a Superbowl?

I was listening to Pat White this afternoon and this was the issue he was debating with his listeners. He personally does not think that it is worth it to go to the trouble to make Indianapolis into more of a Superbowl-friendly town. He believes that since the majority of the attendees to such an event are “High-rollers accustomed to more elaborate entertainment than what Indianapolis has to offer then in February.” He went on to say that there are 2 types of people, we’ll call them “high-rollers” and Average Joe Sports fan”. Since the average Joe Sports Fan typically cannot afford tickets to this event, and since they are typically the hard-core team followers and there actually for the sport regardless of weather conditions, there is no reason to make special accommodations for them. The high-rollers on the other hand that can afford to attend, and are actually going to attend, are doing so more for business contacts, and because they can. More often than not a high roller type, while they may enjoy the game, does not go for the purpose of seeing the game.

Pat White continued on saying that since Indiana’s weather in February is pretty dismal, therefore limiting the other activities one can participate in while they are visiting for the main event. He also argues that there are not enough hotels to accommodate the masses. This is my first problem with this: Indianapolis, Indiana: Home of the Indianapolis 500. How many thousands of people flock to the indy-car mecca of the world for this event every year? You cannot tell me that there are not enough hotels to “accommodate the masses”!

Maybe some patrons would have to travel more of a distance, or God forbid stay in a 2 or 3 star hotel!

My second problem with this is that he says that there is not enough entertainment, aside from the game, to occupy the guests while they are staying. Um, HELLO!! There are countless museums, malls, the Zoo! There are restaurants and bars, (I recommend the Blu Martini), among many other establishments to pass the time, and blow all sorts of money. Pat White’s argument was that the high rollers want to come to the game, go golfing, and send their “trophy-wives and mistresses out to shop”.

Those who know me know that I am not a football fan. I never have been and I never will be. I was excited last year when the Colts won the Superbowl, but that was because it was something that my late Uncle Tom wanted to see and I think every non-football enjoying member of my family, and there are a LOT of us, was happy to see that they finally did. Anyway, I do think that every state that wants to host a Superbowl should have the opportunity. I do agree that there needs to be plenty of hotels and so on available, but I don’t think that the climate of the venue should have anything to do with the decision. (Does anybody know if Minnesota ever hosts a Superbowl? I don't have a clue, but can you imagine what the weather would be like there in February?) Despite the weather, any true football fan, that could afford to be there, would be there.

I guess I sort of think that if your state has a football team that could have a chance at playing in the Superbowl, then you should be able to host one if you want to. And I am pretty sure that the majority of Hoosiers would want to have the opportunity to host one, even if it were only once.