You’d think after sixty years of this, we’d have a standard routine for where the Lombardi Trophy gets hoisted. But honestly, the list of super bowls and locations is way more chaotic than it looks on a simple spreadsheet. It’s not just a rotation of warm cities and fancy domes; it’s a high-stakes game of political maneuvering, weather gambles, and occasionally, absolute logistical nightmares.
Take last year. Super Bowl LIX (that’s 59 for those of us who don't speak Roman fluently) went down in New Orleans. The Philadelphia Eagles basically dismantled the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. Jalen Hurts was a magician that day. But the real story wasn't just the score; it was the fact that New Orleans had to wait an extra year because Mardi Gras was going to clash with the game. The NFL literally moved a multi-billion dollar event because of a parade.
The List of Super Bowls and Locations: From 1967 to Today
People often forget that the first Super Bowl wasn't even called the Super Bowl. It was the "AFL-NFL World Championship Game." It was 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Green Bay won, and surprisingly, the stadium wasn't even full. Can you imagine that today? A Super Bowl with empty seats?
Here is how the venues have shaken out over the last few decades.
The Early Era (1967-1979)
The league stayed safe. They liked California and Florida.
💡 You might also like: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
- I (1967): Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, CA (Green Bay wins)
- II (1968): Orange Bowl, Miami, FL (Green Bay again)
- III (1969): Orange Bowl, Miami, FL (The Jets and Namath’s guarantee)
- IV (1970): Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, LA (Kansas City)
- V (1971): Orange Bowl, Miami, FL (Baltimore Colts)
- VI (1972): Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, LA (Dallas)
- VII (1973): Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, CA (Miami’s perfect season)
- VIII (1974): Rice Stadium, Houston, TX (Miami)
- IX (1975): Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, LA (Pittsburgh)
- X (1976): Orange Bowl, Miami, FL (Pittsburgh)
The Expansion and the "Ice" Era (1980-2000)
This is when the NFL started experimenting. They went to Pontiac, Michigan, in 1982 for Super Bowl XVI. It was freezing outside, but the Silverdome was toasty. Sorta.
- XI (1977): Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA (Oakland)
- XII (1978): Superdome, New Orleans, LA (Dallas)
- XIII (1979): Orange Bowl, Miami, FL (Pittsburgh)
- XIV (1980): Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA (Pittsburgh)
- XV (1981): Superdome, New Orleans, LA (Oakland)
- XVI (1982): Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, MI (San Francisco)
One weird thing you’ve probably noticed? The Rose Bowl in Pasadena hosted five games but doesn't have an NFL team. It’s a college stadium. The NFL loved the palm trees and the sunset so much they didn't care.
The Modern Rotation (2001-Present)
Now we’re in the era of "state-of-the-art" or bust. If a city wants a Super Bowl, they basically have to build a billion-dollar glass palace.
- XXXV (2001): Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL (Baltimore)
- XXXVI (2002): Superdome, New Orleans, LA (New England begins the dynasty)
- XL (2006): Ford Field, Detroit, MI (Pittsburgh)
- XLII (2008): University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ (The Giants ruin the Patriots' perfect season)
- XLV (2011): Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX (Green Bay)
- XLVIII (2014): MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (Seattle)
That 2014 game in New Jersey was a massive risk. It was the first outdoor "cold weather" Super Bowl. Everyone expected a blizzard. Instead, we got a blowout and a relatively mild night. The NFL breathed a sigh of relief and then promptly went back to domes and deserts for a while.
📖 Related: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
Why Some Cities Get the Game (and Others Never Will)
Look, there’s a reason why Miami has hosted 11 times and New Orleans has hosted 11 times. It’s not just the weather. It’s the "Party Infrastructure." The NFL requires a host city to have:
- 70,000 seats (or the ability to add them).
- 35,000 parking spaces within walking distance.
- 20,000 "full-service" hotel rooms within an hour.
- Climate control. If your average February temp is below 50°F, you better have a roof.
This is why places like Buffalo or Green Bay—the heart and soul of the sport—will likely never host. It sucks. But the NFL treats the Super Bowl like a corporate convention that happens to have a football game attached.
The Future Schedule (2026 and Beyond)
We’re currently looking at Super Bowl LX (60). It’s coming up on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Bad Bunny is doing the halftime show, which is going to be wild.
After that?
👉 See also: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
- LXI (2027): SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA.
- LXII (2028): Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA.
Atlanta is a sneaky good host. Everything is walkable in the downtown area, which is what the league loves. They hate busing people 40 miles to the stadium (sorry, San Francisco).
What Really Happened with the "Home Field" Jinx?
For over 50 years, no team ever played a Super Bowl in their home stadium. It was the weirdest curse in sports. Then, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers broke it in 2021 (Super Bowl LV) and won. Then the LA Rams did it the very next year (Super Bowl LVI).
Now, everyone expects it. But don't bet on it. The odds are still statistically tiny.
The Actionable Truth for Fans
If you're planning on attending a future game, stop looking at the stadium. Look at the hotels. The list of super bowls and locations shows a trend: the league is moving toward "stadium campuses." They want you in a spot like Las Vegas (Allegiant Stadium) where you can walk from your hotel to the game.
Next Steps for Your Trip Planning:
- Book 12 months out: If you wait until the playoffs, a "cheap" hotel will cost you $1,200 a night.
- Check the "Fan Zone" location: Sometimes the NFL Experience is in a different city than the stadium (like in 2026, where events are in San Francisco but the game is in Santa Clara).
- Download the NFL OnePass app: It’s actually useful for maps and schedules during the week of the game.
The Super Bowl is basically a traveling circus. It’s expensive, it’s loud, and it’s rarely about just the football. But seeing that list of legendary venues reminds you that every stadium has a ghost—from the 1972 Dolphins in LA to the Eagles' "Philly Special" in Minneapolis. If you're heading to Santa Clara in 2026, just remember: bring a jacket. It's northern California, not Miami.