ATLANTA -- National Football League owners todavoted to hold the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis beat Houston and Glendale, Ariz. in a vote of the league's 32 owners after losing by just two votes to Dallas for the 2011 game.

Despite its cold weather, Indianapolis had been expected to win because each of its competitors has hosted a Super Bowl since opening their stadiums.

For city, state and team officials, winning the right to host one of the world's premiere sporting events is the culmination of an effort that began years ago when the Colts agreed to stay in the city. As part of that deal, Central Indiana counties raised taxes to build a new $750 million stadium.

Lucas Oil Stadium will be ready in 2008 for the Colts, who won Super Bowl XLI in 2006 against the Chicago Bears.

From the beginning, organizers promised that a new home for the Colts could provide the area a substantial economic boost and an injection of pride for Hoosiers.

City and bid officials now have less than four years to prepare their vision for game week, including a Super Bowl "Village" that would transform downtown into a week-long festival that could draw hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The vote was announced at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the Atlanta suburb of Buckhead, where the NFL owners held their annual meeting. Indianapolis went first as the three competing cities gave 15-minute presentations, followed by a league analysis.

Bid committee president Mark Miles and Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Eugene White delivered the city's presentation. Colts' owner Jim Irsay completed the pitch.

The Indianapolis team made a few last-minute enhancements in its presentation today, including boosting the number of stadium suites that would be set aside for the NFL's use.

Bid organizers said their presentation got a huge ovation from the owners.

"It went great. I didn't feel like we could do any more," said Jack Swarbick, the vice president of this year's bid.