NATION : Riots No Bar to Bowl Bid: Rozelle

The street riots that disrupted Miami this week will not affect the city’s chances of playing host to future Super Bowls, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle said today.

“All the owners of the NFL share the grief and sorrow of the events in the Overtown community,” Rozelle said at his annual pre-Super Bowl press conference. “Football has little significance compared to that. As for Miami’s future as a potential Super Bowl site, the incidents have no bearing on future selection.”

The next two Super Bowls have been awarded to New Orleans and Tampa with the 1992 game probably headed for a northern city with a domed stadium, probably Indianapolis. Norman Braman, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles and a resident of North Miami, said he believes that the events of the week will damage the city’s chances of getting the game again.