Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Governor George E. Pataki today requested that the National Football League (NFL) consider New York City to host a future Super Bowl game in the New York Sports and Convention Center. The Mayor and Governor asked, in a letter to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, that the NFL reaffirm their interest in presenting a Super Bowl in the new west side center within the first three years of its opening during their annual League meeting.

Last week, the Mayor and Governor unveiled New York City's Convention Corridor, a historic plan to transform and modernize New York City's convention industry.  The Convention Corridor will include the expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and the creation of the New York Sports and Convention Center.  The new multi-purpose facility will double as a 75,000-seat stadium and a 200,000 square foot exhibit hall - home both to the New York Jets and possibly, the 2012 Olympics. The New York Jets expect to play their first season in New York in 2009.

"The Convention Corridor will give New York City the opportunity to vie for hundreds of exciting events - like the Super Bowl, which will create millions of dollars in economic activity," said Governor Pataki.  "I have no doubt New York City would make a spectacular host for the Super Bowl given that we have so much to offer in terms of hotels, entertainment, restaurants, and with the construction of the Sports and Convention Center - a first-class sports venue.  The Sports and Convention Center is a smart public-private investment in New York's future. This project will grow our City and State economy by building a multi-purpose facility that will host dozens of events throughout the year and generate tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue."

"New York City and the Super Bowl are a natural fit, and the world's most popular sporting event belongs in the 'World's Second Home'," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "When the New York Sports and Convention Center is complete, New York will finally have a world-class facility for the country's top sports events along with the economic activity and jobs that come with them.  This facility, which will have a retractable roof, will be a home for the New York Jets, a central venue for the 2012 Olympic Games if we are fortunate enough to be selected, and an unforgettable location with unparalleled energy and spirit for an incredible Super Bowl experience."

The New York Sports and Convention Center

The New York Sports and Convention Center (NYSCC) is conceived as the most dynamic multi-purpose facility in the world.  Approximately 17 days a year, the facility will function as a stadium including home to the New York Jets for 10 games and host to sporting events such as the Final Four and a Super Bowl, on the remaining days, and possibly other large scale events like the Olympics in 2012. During the rest of the year, the NYSCC will double as New York City's first mid-size convention center and offer ancillary space to the Javits Center linked via an underground concourse while also attracting new shows. It will become part of the fabric of the neighborhood, housing a museum, a community theater and several signature restaurants while providing much needed open space. And it will set a new benchmark in sustainable design, generating much of its own power.

To make the NYSCC a reality, the New York Jets will invest $800 million, the largest private investment to a comparable facility, and they will pay the MTA annual ground rent for use of the property.  The City and State will each contribute $300 million to build a deck over the rail yards and for the stadium's retractable roof, which will permit the facility to be used year-round. The State's contribution will be dedicated toward the platform over the rail yards. The City and State's contribution to the NYSCC is limited to $300 million each, and the Jets have pledged to absorb any excess costs.  Should the project come in under budget, the City and State will share in cost savings. As with the Javits expansion, the NYSCC will also have a profound impact on New York's economy, generating 6,700 permanent jobs, and $75 million in additional revenue to the City and State.

Convention Corridor - Investing in the Future

The investment in the creation of the Convention Corridor is a true public-private partnership. The project will generate $128 million annually in new tax revenues, in addition to the $97 million in tax revenues currently generated by Javits, for a total of $225 million in annual City and State revenues.  Moreover this investment will propel New York's convention corridor into the top five convention centers in the country, supporting the vital tourism and convention industry for years to come.  And the combination of added exhibition and meeting room space, the ballroom, and the flexible capacity of the NYSCC give New York a unique ability to host nearly any event, convention, or trade show held in the United States.

Construction is expected to begin on Convention Corridor in spring 2005, following the conclusion of a comprehensive environmental review now underway.