Down on the Bayou: New Orleans Bests Miami for 2013 Super Bowl

It will be the 10th Super Bowl for New Orleans and first since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area

Despite the home field advantage, Miami lost its bid to host an 11th Super Bowl on Tuesday after NFL owners selected the reviving city of New Orleans to be home to the 2013 championship game.

The owners, who were meeting in Fort Lauderdale, listened to presentations from Miami, New Orleans, and Glendale, Ariz., before announcing their pick.

"It's a great day for our community," Saints owner Tom Benson said as he walked onto an elevator at a South Florida hotel, on his way to the formal announcement.

New Orleans last hosted in 2002, and it was a dramatic one. Adam Viniateri booted a 48-yard field goal as time expired to lift New England over the heavily favored St. Louis.

This Super Bowl selection may be even sweeter because it may signal that New Orleans is back after being ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2006. The hurricane caused 1,600 deaths and devastated the Gulf Coast four years ago.

Miamians need not worry. The Super Bowl will be here this year. Arizona hosted the game in 2008.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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