Bodog Beat

The Colts will host Super Bowl XLVI. (AP Images)

If Peyton Manning can stick around long enough, he might get a chance to compete for a Vince Lombardi trophy in front of his hometown Colts.

That scenario became officially possible today as the NFL announced that Super Bowl XLVI will be held in Indianapolis for the 2012 season.

The game will be played on February 5, 2012 at the Lucas Oil Stadium which is scheduled to open this season. The facility is adjacent to the Colts' former home, the RCA Dome, and is estimated to seat between 63,000 and 75,000 fans, depending on configuration.

"We have a public/private-funded stadium that is, I believe, the best in the world," Colts owner Jim Irsay said. "I put $100 million into it and our city $650 million. We have generated an extra $25 million in donations for the league for operating costs. Our square footage went from 900 (thousand) in the old place to 1.8 million."

Other candidates for hosting the 2012 Super Bowl were Arizona (Glendale) and Houston. Arizona's University of Phoenix Stadium was the host of last year's Super Bowl XLII, while Houston's last Super Bowl (XXXVIII) was held after the 2003 season.

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