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National Football League owners have voted to host the 2013 Super Bowl in New Orleans, the first time the city will stage the league's championship game since 2002.

New Orleans were awarded the game ahead of Miami, where organisers had been seeking a record 11th Super Bowl, and 2008 hosts Glendale, Arizona.

The decision sparked immediate celebration in the Louisiana city which was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

"This is a great accomplishment for New Orleans and the significance of bringing the Super Bowl to our city and region can't be overstated," New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson said.

"From every perspective, this shows that our city is on the rise, viable and thriving and I have great faith in what we can accomplish and the impact it will have, starting today."

The economic impact of staging a Super Bowl is estimated at well over $300 million for the host city, a boost which will be warmly welcomed by New Orleans.

Eighty per cent of the city was flooded after Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore on August 29, 2005 and the levees broke.

The hurricane killed about 1,500 people along the US Gulf Coast and caused $80 billion in damages, making it the costliest US natural disaster.

The Super Bowl is one of the most heavily viewed shows on US television every year.

Reuters