The pick is in and Roger Staubach (JLL Americas executive chairman, Super Bowl MVP and NFL Hall of Famer) is going with the New England Patriots. JLL research shows that NFL teams based in cities with higher office vacancy rates have taken home the Lombardi Trophy 60% of the time in the past 15 seasons, including a seven-year streak from 2000-2006. Seattle broke from that trend in 2014 with the franchise’s first championship. Based on those numbers, Boston is still the pick. Boston’s vacancy rate is four points higher (14.7% than Seattle’s current rate of 10.7%). However, JLL considered other factors when examining this year’s game, like 2014 rent growth, which was 7.7% higher in New England at 11.6%. Greater Boston’s office supply and construction activity is higher than Seattle with 160M SF to the Emerald City’s 88.4M SF. The two markets have similar construction activity, but Boston has a much higher percentage of pre-leased space: 51% to Seattle’s 26.2. JLL’s New England region managing director James Tierney adds, “Whether you’re on the hunt for a real estate investment, new space for your business, or the most successful head coach and quarterback combination in football history, Boston is where you’ll find it. Go Patriots!”