NFL owners still intend to vote next week on bringing the Super Bowl back to Las Vegas in 2029, as expected, sources have confirmed.
The city and the league entered into negotiations last year to bring the event back to Allegiant Stadium for a second time. A formal approval and announcement for Super Bowl 63 could come as soon as Monday at the NFL league meetings in Phoenix, with several dignitaries from the Las Vegas Raiders and the city set to attend.
It is just one of several items on the agenda for the meetings, including minor rule changes.
The league is considering a proposal to allow teams to declare an onside kick at any time, not just when trailing in the fourth quarter. Other minor kickoff changes regarding alignment will also be up for a vote.
A potential temporary rule that would allow expanded use of replay to assist replacement officials, should the NFL Referees Association have a work stoppage, is expected to draw the most attention.
The so-called “Tush Push” will not be addressed this year. It has been a hot topic at league meetings over the past couple of years, but owners have voted against banning it multiple times, and no further action is expected for now.
The Cleveland Browns submitted a proposal for a possible vote that would allow teams to trade draft picks five years into the future instead of three. The Pittsburgh Steelers proposed making permanent a one-year rule that was in place this year allowing teams to have five direct calls with potential free agents during the “legal tampering” period.
All proposals have varying levels of scrutiny before passage, but the path for approval of bringing the Super Bowl back to Las Vegas appears clear.
Las Vegas hosted its first Super Bowl in 2024, when the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl 58.
It was considered a massive success for both the league and the city, with more than 300,000 visitors descending on Southern Nevada.