Published: May 21, 2008 12:00 am         

Irsay, Polian soak in landing Super Bowl

INDIANAPOLIS — While Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay celebrated the fact Tuesday that Lucas Oil Stadium will be the site of Super Bowl XLVI, team president Bill Polian took in the news a bit more quietly.

Irsay and Polian were both in the room when the NFL’s 32 team owners finally worked their way through a longer-than-expected voting process that wound up lasting for four rounds. Still, the satisfaction of knowing that Indianapolis would be hosting the big game wasn’t lost on the longtime team executive.

Of course, there were a few anxious moments for the Indianapolis contingent after the third round of voting. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell mistakenly told everyone that a decision had finally been reached. But that proved not to be the case as Indianapolis and Glendale, Ariz., had to go to a fourth vote before a decision was eventually known.

“Jim and I were seated side-by-side in the [meeting] room and, as Jim said in his [initial remarks to the media], the commissioner misspoke a little bit early, one ballot early. So our hearts sort of jumped, I’m sure, and it took a little while to get it out. We were on pins and needles before we heard the word Indianapolis. But obviously [there was] great joy and great relief,” Polian said, explaining the how the voting process played itself out.

“The process is that one city drops out [after round one] when there are three candidates. And then the next ballot requires 24 votes. No one had 24 votes at that point. The commissioner thought that it would be a simple majority [after the third vote] carried the day. He recognized quickly that it didn’t. But it was kind of a, ‘We have a winner’ and everybody was “Oh, boy.’”

As Irsay took the news in, the only emotion felt by Polian was a simple sense of relief.

“We just patted each other on the back. Jim used the right term [prior to the vote when he talked about], cautious optimism,” he said.

• Looking back — Now that Indianapolis will be hosting a Super Bowl game, Polian can afford to take a look back over the years that he’s been with the franchise and reflect on everything that has taken place during that time.

“For Indianapolis, [Super Bowl XLVI] means a chance to leave a permanent legacy and help people who need the help and maybe use it as a springboard, the ability to revitalize a community and a section of this city that needs it. So that’s the most important part of it,” he said.

“The second part is that, for Jim and for all of us that work for the Colts, it’s the last piece of a puzzle of a dream that we dreamed 10 years ago.”

• Gracious loser — Arizona Cardinals team president Michael Bidwell was disappointed that the Super Bowl bid of Glendale, Ariz., didn’t come up a winner Tuesday. Still, he was happy for the city of Indianapolis and Irsay.

“Disappointed, but hats off to Jim Irsay and the proposal that was made to Indianapolis. They put together a great proposal two years in a row. And, obviously, they found a winning combination this year. I congratulate them,” Bidwell said.

“I think it’s going to be a great game. Hats off to Indianapolis, the whole community, the Colts and Jim Irsay.”

• Practice sites — In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, the AFC team will practice at the Colts complex while the NFC representative will work out at a new $9 million indoor facility that will be built on the campus of Howe High School.

Once the game is over, the site will be turned over to the school for their permanent use for classes and athletic events.

• Fourth cold weather Super Bowl — The decision to play Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis will mark the fourth “cold weather” location in the game’s history.

Detroit has hosted the game twice and Minneapolis once. Supposed “good weather” cities haven’t fared either. Atlanta was hit by an ice storm the night before their only Super Bowl game while fans of Indianapolis and Chicago were soaked by game-long rain showers two years ago in Super Bowl XLI.

• Owners opt out of collective bargaining agreement — Prior to voting on a location for the 2012 Super Bowl, league owners decided to opt out of their CBA with the NFL Players Association. The agreement is scheduled to expire after the 2011 draft.

As it stands now, the 2009 season will be the last one with a salary cap. A league-wide lockout of players by the owners is a possibility for the 2011 season.