Nashville may host a Super Bowl

Tampa stays in the mix but must do some upgrades

Attention Nashville and Tennessee taxpayers: National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell is thanking you for your more than one‑billion‑dollar contribution to a private business — the Tennessee Titans — to help pay for the franchise’s new stadium. With that investment, Goodell all but suggested that a Super Bowl is coming to Nashville in the future. While the commissioner cannot award a Super Bowl himself, the 31 NFL owners and the Green Bay Packers Board of Directors can act on his recommendation. Historically, NFL owners reward markets that publicly finance stadium construction with the league’s crown‑jewel event.

Goodell recently toured the construction site of the Titans’ next home and was so impressed he nearly handed out a Super Bowl on the spot. Almost. Nashville already proved it can host a major NFL event when the 2019 NFL Draft brought an estimated 600,000 people downtown over three days. Goodell and league executives still reference that weekend as a turning point for the city’s NFL profile. “You took the draft and made it yours… it was a wake‑up moment that this is a Super Bowl‑ready city,” Goodell said. In NFL terms, “Super Bowl‑ready” means one thing: a new stadium backed by significant taxpayer investment.

Why Tampa Must Upgrade Raymond James Stadium to Stay in the Super Bowl Mix

While Nashville rises, Tampa faces a different message from the league. Raymond James Stadium — opened in 1998 and last renovated in 2018 — needs major upgrades if Tampa wants to remain in the Super Bowl rotation. Buccaneers ownership has acknowledged that the venue is aging and must modernize to stay competitive for marquee events. Reports from WUSF, Pro Football Network, FOX 13 Tampa Bay, Sports Illustrated, and Pewter Report outline the same theme: the NFL expects substantial improvements to fan experience, premium seating, technology, and stadium infrastructure before awarding another Super Bowl.

The Buccaneers and Hillsborough County are now evaluating “major” or “massive” renovation plans, including expanded premium areas, updated concourses, enhanced technology, and overall modernization to match newer NFL venues. With new stadiums opening across the league, Raymond James risks falling behind without significant investment.

The Bigger Picture: Stadium Money Still Drives the NFL’s Biggest Decisions

Nashville’s billion‑dollar taxpayer commitment has placed the city squarely in the Super Bowl conversation, while Tampa — a proven Super Bowl host — must now upgrade to keep pace. The NFL’s message remains consistent: cities that invest heavily in stadium infrastructure are rewarded with the league’s most lucrative events. As the Titans’ new stadium rises and Raymond James Stadium faces pressure to modernize, the Super Bowl landscape continues to shift — driven, as always, by public dollars, private franchises, and the NFL’s relentless pursuit of premium venues.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com