The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee expects to reimburse Minneapolis at least $4.9 million for the extra cost of providing public safety, facilities, parking and traffic management for the 10-day event beginning next January, according to a proposed contract released Thursday.
The biggest anticipated cost is $3.1 million for police. Next is public works at $725,000, an early estimated cost that is expected to grow.
Before U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis was chosen by the National Football League to play host to the 2018 Super Bowl, there was an agreement that the Super Bowl Host Committee would raise private money to cover the public costs of hosting the game and the festivities leading up to it. The $4.9 million covers the costs that are beyond typical daily services.
"The events require [a] significantly greater level of city services than city budgets customarily support," a document detailing the pact said.
The host committee is a private, nonprofit organization, so its fundraising goals and progress are not public information. Using other Super Bowls as an indication, the committee likely needs to raise more than $35 million to put on the event.
The proposed agreement with Minneapolis is one of the few public documents to give insight into the costs of hosting a Super Bowl, which includes more than a week of festivities. The deal was negotiated privately by the host committee's COO Dave Haselman, city coordinator Spencer Cronk as well as consultants Brittany Allen and former Minneapolis finance director Patrick Born.
The Super Bowl events start Jan. 26 and end with the game the evening of Feb. 4, 2018. Although the event is presented as a "Bold North" statewide showcase, the proposal notes that Minneapolis will play host to the three largest events: the game, Super Bowl Live and the NFL Experience. The live event is akin to a miniature state fair with food vendors, exhibits by sponsors, the Puppy Bowl and big-name live music every night.
The NFL Experience gives fans, especially youngsters, a chance to test their skills and get up close to memorabilia, including the Lombardi Trophy.
Actual event venues haven't been identified yet, but the Minneapolis Convention Center and Nicollet Mall are expected to be among them.
In all, there are 16 official Super Bowl events and more than 100 other private and public events that will be spread out across the Twin Cities, including St. Paul and Bloomington, which has the most hotel rooms and the Mall of America.
The coordinated law enforcement for the event will be run by the Minneapolis Police Department, which already has set up and started staffing an outpost near U.S. Bank Stadium to lead the effort that will include law enforcement from other local jurisdictions as well as federal agencies.
Super Bowl security is extensive and unlike anything most Minnesotans have seen. Many venues require visitors to pass through metal detectors and be subject to bag checks. Commandos carrying high-powered rifles are visible throughout the week on public streets.
In the draft of the presentation to be presented to council members Monday, city staff noted that attendance is expected to be 1 million over the 10 days, including 5,000 members of the media. They expect an estimated economic impact of $400 million.
Unlike other NFL cities, however, the politics of public subsidies for professional sports are much tougher in Minneapolis. Opposition to public aid for pro sports extends to paying for public services for a marquee event. In contrast, Houston covered the cost of public safety for the game there.
City spokeswoman Sarah Mackenzie said late Thursday that city staff would be available to answer questions about the proposed contract at a presentation Monday.
Host committee spokeswoman Andrea Mokros said unequivocally that these specific public costs will be covered by private funds — including any agreed upon cost increases to the initial arrangement.
Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747 Twitter: @rochelleolson