Houston Super Bowl Host Committee announces date of Super Bowl LI

HOUSTON -- Houston, we have a date! Super Bowl LI will be played at Houston's NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017, according to the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee.

The committee says the National Football League made the announcement Thursday.

"We are excited to now know the date, and the Houston Super Bowl LI Host Committee is proud and eager to lock in the countdown to kick-off," Host Committee Chairman Ric Campo said in a prepared statement. "It's a tremendous opportunity to showcase Houston as the forward-looking, global city that it is, as well as come together as a community and have a great time."

Houston has hosted a Super Bowl twice before. Super Bowl VIII was held at Rice Stadium back in 1974, and Super Bowl XXXVIII took place at Reliant Stadium in 2004. The event will be an international Super Bowl and it's a huge economic win for our area.

"We are thankful our good friend Bob McNair and the other NFL owners are returning the Super Bowl to the best venue in America," said host committee Honorary Chairman James A. Baker, III, the 61st U.S. Secretary of State. "We plan to return that favor by hosting a celebration with our special Houston flair, and we are already deep into the preparation for it."

San Francisco hosts Super Bowl L, the 50th edition, in 2016.