NFL has announced that the league is planning to host 22,000 fans for Super Bowl LV on February 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. On a special note, the league is including 7,500 vaccinated health care workers in this audience to honour them for their continued extraordinary service during the pandemic. The rest of the available seats will be given to ticketed fans.
The NFL is inviting 7,500 vaccinated health care workers to attend Super Bowl LV to thank and honor them for their continued extraordinary service during the pandemic.
To celebrate, @nflcommish surprised Sarasota Memorial Hospital health care workers with tickets to #SBLV. pic.twitter.com/iurMY0BvMM
— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2021
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the audience plan and this incredible initiative. He said, “These dedicated health care workers continue to put their own lives at risk to serve others, and we owe them our ongoing gratitude. We hope in a small way that this initiative will inspire our country and recognise these true American heroes. This is also an opportunity to promote the importance of vaccination and appropriate health practices, including wearing masks in public settings.”
Health care workers in the audience will be celebrated through a variety of special moments both in the stadium and during the CBS broadcast. The majority of healthcare workers are expected to be from the Tampa and central Florida area, but all 32 NFL teams will be able to choose healthcare workers from their communities to attend mega event.
The Super Bowl will feature strict COVID-19 protocols, including required masks and social distancing, along with podded seating, and touchless in-stadium experiences at concessions, restrooms and security checkpoints. Although Raymond James Stadium has a capacity of 65,890, for Super Bowl the venue will be about one-third full during the Super Bowl. While 14,500 tickets will be sold to fans, the statement did not mention a timetable for when tickets will be available to the general public.
The teams that will feature in Super Bowl LV will be decided after the two conference championship games between the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills (AFC), and Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC), respectively. If Tampa Bay beats Green Bay, the Buccaneers would become the first team in history to play the Super Bowl at home.