5 Places Better Than Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI

On February 5, Indianapolis will be the center of the football universe when it hosts Super Bowl XLVI.

The city's new state-of-the-art stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, will be a great venue for the game.

However, the city of Indianapolis, a pleasant Midwestern city, is hardly a dream destination for fans looking to enjoy the two weeks of partying leading up to the big game.

As fans and the media prepare to descend on Indianapolis, expect to hear a lot of griping about the location and weather. The average high temperature for Indianapolis in February is 44 degrees.

While the NFL can't move the game now, here are five places the NFL should've had Super Bowl XLVI.

5. Pasadena, California

The City of Roses knows how to throw a good party.

For more than a decade, Pasadena has hosted college football's "Granddaddy of them all," the Rose Bowl. 

But the city has NFL roots as well. Pasadena has hosted five Super Bowls, but none since 1993. 

Bringing the big game back to Pasadena does have its obstacles. The Rose Bowl is in need of renovations, and Los Angeles doesn't have an NFL team. 

Still, the Super Bowl is a big tourist event, and the host city doesn't necessarily need a built-in fanbase.

Plus, Disneyland is nearby for families, and the Southern California weather is unbeatable. 

Pasadena has hosted five Super Bowls (XI, XIV, XVII, XXI, XXVII).

4. Phoenix, Arizona

The University of Phoenix Stadium is one of the best football stadiums in the NFL. It looks great on television, and it's always in pristine condition.

The Phoenix area will be in the spotlight again in 2015 when Super Bowl XLIX heads to Glendale.

Arizona's weather is among the best in the country in February, and the city's night life is not lacking.

The Phoenix area has hosted two Super Bowls (XXX, XLII).

3. Tampa, Florida

The city located on the Gulf of Mexico is always a good option to host a Super Bowl.

The night life in Tampa and the surrounding suburbs is top-notch. And the weather is often beautiful, even in February.

Tampa has hosted four previous Super Bowls (XVIII, XXV, XXXV, XLIII) and knows how to throw a party.

There are plenty of great beaches in the area, including Clearwater Beach, which always ranks among the best beaches in the U.S..

And for the fans and members of the media that like a New Orleans-like atmosphere, Ybor City is just a couple minutes away.    

2. Miami, Florida

Beaches, beautiful weather and tons of places to party, that's Miami in a nutshell. For those reasons, Miami is an ideal spot to host the big game.

Miami has hosted 10 Super Bowls (II, III, V, X, XIII, XXIII, XXIX, XXXIII, XLI, XLIV), the most of any U.S. city.

South Beach is a great location because it's loaded with stylish shopping, great restaurants and sexy people.  

Sure, the rain can be a nuisance, but a few rain drops are worth it. One other drawback about Miami is that it's a very expensive city. A two-week party could drain a lot of bank accounts.

1. New Orleans, Louisiana

The NFL should consider moving the Super Bowl permanently to the Big Easy—or at least every other year.

With the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, New Orleans is in the business of throwing parties.

While the Superdome isn't the nicest stadium in the league, the city's warm weather and non-stop partying makes NOLA the best big-game destination.

New Orleans has hosted nine Super Bowls (IV, VI, IX, XII, XV, XX, XXIV, XXXI, XXXVI) and will host again in 2013.