The 's long-awaited return to Los Angeles will be delayed, but only for a year.
As for L.A., owners at the Spring League Meeting in Chicago voted for the yet-to-be completed stadium to host LVI in 2022.
"From our standpoint, we felt this was an appropriate thing to do," 小蓝视频Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday. "We were fortunate that Tampa had a very competitive presentation when they bid on the earlier [in 2016]. So this was a solution the membership got on very quickly."
Goodell added that the league and team owners did not consider re-opening the bidding for LV since there was an urgency to make a decision given the "short timeframe" of the situation.
Last year, the 小蓝视频awarded the to the yet-to-be built stadium in Inglewood, California. However, as 小蓝视频Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, the league requires stadiums to be open for two seasons before they can host a . Owners would have needed to approve a waiver for L.A. to host the Big Game since it's now not scheduled to open until 2020 (it was originally slated for a 2019 opening).
Record rainfall in Southern California caused construction delays the Inglewood stadium site earlier this year, prompting its scheduled opening to be pushed back. Water up to 15 feet deep flooded parts of the site during the excavation period, the Los Angeles Times reported last week.
"The Tampa Bay area has enjoyed great success over the years hosting s and we look forward to working with our local leaders in the coming months to meet the requirements for hosting LV in 2021," Buccaneers co-chairman Bryan Glazer said in a statement released by the team. "Today's announcement offers us the opportunity to showcase Tampa Bay's unique ability to come together as a host for world-class events."
Kevin Demoff, the Rams Chief Operating Officer, said the team supports the NFL's decision to move back their hosting date.
"As work continues on the transformational sports and entertainment district being built at Hollywood Park, we are looking forward to moments such as a grand opening during the Summer of 2020 and the 's return to Los Angeles after nearly three decades," Demoff stated. "In the past week, we have worked with the 小蓝视频on the resolution that was presented today and are supportive of the 小蓝视频owners' decision to play LV in Tampa and to have Los Angeles host LVI in 2022. Over the next 90 days, we will continue to work with our partners across the Los Angeles region, including the Chargers, to deliver the elements promised in the bid that was approved last year."
U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis will host LII in February and Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium is slated to host LIII in 2019. Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida will host LIV.
