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Preliminary step taken for Detroit to host another Super Bowl, NFL Draft

Posted at 6:48 PM, Mar 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-29 18:49:01-04

The Detroit Lions have never played in the Super Bowl but the NFL team has expressed interest in seeing pro football's biggest game return to the motor city.

Team president Rod Wood made the comment to reporters during the NFL meetings this week in Phoenix, Arizona. 

"We were contacted and so jointly we said yes, we would be interested," said Larry Alexander, president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Alexander told Action News an initial step has been taken in the long process. 

"We submitted a letter of interest to get the documentation and information from the NFL to even see what's required now," said Alexander. "That event continues to grow year after year after year so I'm sure the bid specifications have tripled compared to when we hosted it in 2006."

The budget for host cities now is around $40 million, according to Alexander. He said the host committee spent $18 million to host Super Bowl XL in 2006.

Minneapolis, which is opening a new stadium, will host the 2018 Super Bowl and other sites have already been selected through 2021.

The Lions have also expressed interest in bringing the NFL Draft to Detroit.