The NFL has announced the number of participants for Super Bowl LV, which will be held in Tampa in two weeks. The league is inviting about 7,500 vaccinated healthcare workers to Super Bowl LV as NFL guests in addition to the additional 14,500 fans in attendance at Raymond James Stadium. The majority of these healthcare workers – all will have received both doses of the vaccine – will come from hospitals and healthcare systems in the Tampa area and central Florida, as each team will select vaccinated healthcare workers in their communities.
Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president for club and league events, spoke to CBSSports.com for an exclusive interview about the league’s plans for Super Bowl LV and how the league plans to manage attendance for the 2021 season:
The NFL has opted for an attendance of 22,000 people, a little over 30% of the official capacity of Raymond James Stadium. What were the determining factors on this fixed number?
O’Reilly: “There were two elements of this number. Obviously, the 14,500 paid assistants and then the 7,500 health workers. The 14,500 were based on the protocol we established over the summer and what we have watched and observed throughout the season, including at Raymond James Stadium with the Buccaneers, but also the 21 other stadiums that have hosted supporters.
“We focused on the basic protocols around the match, the supporters in separate modules around the stadium, the mandatory masks, and we landed on that. And that was done in conjunction with public health officials. , the CDC comments, local officials here in Tampa.
“What we announced today with the 7,500 healthcare workers was developed recently over the past month or so, in cooperation with the same medical experts. After the first gunshots in December, we started having a conservation on two things. this is an opportunity to really thank and celebrate and bring joy to vaccinated healthcare workers – especially those who have been vaccinated and those we might invite – and also use the Super Bowl platform to educate people about the vaccine . Those 22,000 that you mentioned, we worked with all these medical authorities and ended up there. ”
What determined the seating arrangement? I believe the Dallas Cowboys were the first team to do this. Did you receive any information from this organization?
O’Reilly: “We established it from some of our league-wide protocols from Dr. (Allen) Sills (NFL Chief Medical Officer) and our health experts shared with the clubs in July and August. It was the protocol for all the clubs this season that we keep you here throughout – so really groups of two and four where you really don’t have anyone in the seats next to you, in front of you or behind you. This has been league-wide protocol throughout the season. ”
Masks are obviously mandatory, but will they be provided to guests at the entrance?
O’Reilly: “We are providing all fans, whether vaccinated or not, and every staff member with a KN-95 mask – which is a really effective mask – and they will have to work during the game to ensure compliance is really, really. important.”
For the vaccinated health workers participating in the match, what day should they receive their two doses of vaccine by?
O’Reilly: “January 24. So we’re right. The first injection of Moderna / Pfizer vaccine on January 3 and the second on January 24, so you have that time – an extended period until February 7 to ensure a full vaccination. based on the advice of our medical experts. “
Is there a specific area of the stadium they will be seated in?
O’Reilly: “They’ll actually be scattered around the stadium. It’s based on our plans and feedback from the CDC and others. If you’re an unvaccinated fan, you’ll have three empty seats next to you on both sides and you I will have no one in front of you or behind you. These vaccinated health workers will be staggered in the rows behind, spread throughout the stadium. ”
Will tickets be out of pocket this year?
O’Reilly: “All mobile. This is the first Super Bowl where all tickets will be mobile. This boat is clearly more secure and we have a contactless experience and the ability to communicate with fans is all the stronger the closer you are heading to. match and make sure they understand all protocols when receiving push notifications and otherwise.
“It’s been really adopted throughout the league this year and it will be the first fully mobile Super Bowl, the fully cashless Super Bowl to avoid any sort of tactile experience in concessions and touched experiences in the bathroom. it has been accelerated – which is a good thing for the long term and clearly the safest approach during the pandemic. ”
Does the NFL expect full stadium capacity in time for the start of the 2021 season?
O’Reilly: “I think that’s too far away to really speculate. As we head into the Super Bowl, there is clearly a need to stress the importance of vaccinations and healthcare workers were the first – and rightly so – to this topic. Hopefully we move on into the rest of winter and spring, these vaccinations will continue and allow – not only NFL fans and NFL games – but also people to be able to come together at such events. ”
Will you need to be vaccinated to enter NFL stadiums next year?
O’Reilly: “I think it’s too early to really determine. There is so much that we will learn and evolve this offseason in August. We will heed the advice of our medical experts, but it is a bit early to formulate our plan.. Many major events will take place between which we will learn and continue to become smarter. ”
How did the city of Tampa deal with the uncertainty of this game?
O’Reilly: “They have been incredible partners. I will say that. The city, the county. Our partners on the Tampa Super Bowl organizing committee – not the Super Bowl they had in mind when they received the game – – but they were just so amazing playing with us and helping us do it live.
“Obviously a lot is not happening this year for obvious reasons, but they have been with us every step of the way and especially the vaccinated health workers. They have been really great working with the six hospitals. from the Tampa Bay area. And I would say – and it’s still part of Super Bowl weekend – but they’ve been so involved in the community and focused on the impact of the Super Bowl in the community. element and the legacy of that The Super Bowl Will Go has been just great in the partnership we’ve had here in Tampa. ”
Could the city be awarded a Super Bowl in the future due to the bad timing of the pandemic?
O’Reilly: “Their goal – and ours – has clearly been February 7, which will be a special, unifying and truly positive Super Bowl. All conservations – especially any decision-making at the property level – will take place around Tampa and in the future. Super Bowls. I’ll just say they’ve been amazing partners and they’ve risen to the challenge. ”
