Super Bowl LXII in 2028 is likely to be awarded to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, according to a report by Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal. The decision will ultimately require input and approval from the full group of NFL team owners, but “key owners” on the NFL Fan Engagement & Major Events Committee are pushing for Atlanta as the host city.
If approved, this would mark the first Super Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium since Super Bowl LIII in 2019, when the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. Atlanta previously hosted the Super Bowl at the Georgia Dome in 1994 and 2000.
Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, has been vocal about his desire to bring the Super Bowl back to Atlanta. In April, Blank revealed that the team was actively pursuing the opportunity to host either the 2028 or 2029 Super Bowl. "We have our hat in for another Super Bowl [for the 2028 or '29 game]," Blank said, via Daniel Kaplan of Front Office Sports.
A Reddit thread was started to gather reactions to the news of Atlanta potentially hosting the Super Bowl. One person commented, “Arthur Blank really nailed it with that sweet new stadium. Like most new modern stadiums, it’s used for all kinds of events, but it’s in the Super Bowl rotation.” Another user jokingly added, “Just giving away the script now,” poking fun at the conspiracy theory that some people believe the Super Bowl is scripted entertainment.
In other Super Bowl news, Kendrick Lamar has been selected for this year’s halftime show, beating out Lil Wayne despite him being from Louisiana, where the game will take place. With Atlanta potentially hosting the 2028 Super Bowl, some are speculating whether Atlanta natives might perform during that year’s halftime show. However, this may be unlikely, as in 2019, when Atlanta hosted, the performers were Maroon 5, Travis Scott, and Big Boi. Big Boi was the only Georgia native among them.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened in August 2017, is set to host a variety of major events in the coming years, including the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 20. The stadium will also be a venue for eight matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a semifinal match.
If Atlanta is awarded the 2028 Super Bowl, the next four locations for the title game will be confirmed: Super Bowl LXIX in New Orleans, LX in Santa Clara, and LXI in Los Angeles.
About seven years ago, the NFL stopped its previous process of accepting bids to host the Super Bowl. While cities used to bid for the game, the league now prefers to have more control over the selection process.
