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San Francisco civic leaders are on the edges of yet-to-be-built stadium seats as they wait to learn Tuesday if the city has made a short list of potential hosts for the Super Bowl in 2016 or 2017.

A version of the list had been drawn up by Monday by a special advisory committee to the National Football League, according to sources familiar with the matter. But the final selections - and official release of the list - won't happen until NFL team owners vote on it Tuesday during their annual fall meeting in Chicago.

"The owners will make their choice Tuesday, and the announcement will take place later in the afternoon," said league spokesman Brian McCarthy.

Nobody is saying San Francisco is a sure winner to be on the list - but nobody is saying it's a longshot, either.

"We believe San Francisco is ideally suited for the Super Bowl," said Nathan Ballard, spokesman for the group of leaders that has been quietly pushing for the city's inclusion on the NFL's list.

"We have the hotel rooms, we have the restaurants, we have the Wine Country - and most importantly, we will have a great new stadium just down the road in Santa Clara," Ballard said. "We are very optimistic about our chances."

A new $1.2 billion stadium in Santa Clara is expected to open in time for the 49ers' 2014 season. However, the team will still keep San Francisco in its name after it moves, and team CEO Jed York told The Chronicle last week the team will still consider San Francisco "our home."

Mayor Ed Lee and philanthropist Daniel Lurie are among those who have been working together for months on the effort to attract the Super Bowl. The group submitted its application to the NFL's advisory committee Aug. 9.

After the potential list of bidders is finalized, the selected cities will have until May to press their cases. That's when the NFL's 32 team owners will pick the winners at their annual spring meeting.

A spokeswoman for Lee said he is confident. "The mayor doesn't think there is any city better suited to host the Super Bowl," said Christine Falvey.

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S.F. group awaits word on Super Bowl bid