INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard believes the NFL will have a new collective bargaining agreement in place before next year’s Super Bowl, which is scheduled to be played at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Local officials and the host committee have spent years preparing for the city’s first Super Bowl. Losing it, some estimate, could cost the city as much as $200 million.
The league has never canceled a Super Bowl, and Ballard does not believe it will start now.
The mayor spoke to reporters during this weekend’s annual NFL scouting combine and says he believes the two sides are “closer” to a deal than they have been previously.
The current CBA expires at the end of Thursday and a lockout could begin Friday.
