San Francisco turns 50 in 2016.
The NFL on Wednesday sent Super Bowl L to the Bay Area for the first time since 1985 when Stanford Stadium was the host stadium. The San Francisco 49ers are building a new stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Levi Stadium, which will be ready for the 2014 season.
San Francisco beat Miami for the rights to the celebrated anniversary of the Super Bowl. The South Florida area had been hoping to secure its 11th Super Bowl, but ran into problems when the Florida Legislature voted against financing a renovation of the Dolphins' home, Sun Life Stadium.
"It's a testament to everybody in the Bay Area," 49ers owner Jed York told NFL Network. "The city of Santa Clara came together, obviously San Francisco stepped up for the Super Bowl; San Jose has been a big part of this, and I think you're going to see everybody from Napa all the way to Monterey step up for this. ... Sports are supposed to bring people together; they bring communities together, and nothing emphasizes that more than the Bay Area hosting Super Bowl L."
Ironically, Joe Montana's 49ers defeated Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium, in the last Bay Area extravaganza.
The NFL also announced that the city of Houston will host Super Bowl LI in 2017, also beating out Miami. Reliant Stadium, the home of the Houston Texans, played host to the 2004 Super Bowl.
"I can't tell you how excited I am for Houston in being selected as the site for the 2017 Super Bowl," Texans owner Bob McNair said in a statement published by ESPN.com. "This is a worldwide stage that will be constructed in Houston and the world will be watching. It's an opportunity to showcase our wonderful city, the NFL and the Super Bowl all at the same time."
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