In just a few days now, the Super Bowl, perhaps the most important and prestigious annual sporting event in the United States, will be taking place. The event will be held on February 12 at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
As one can expect, excitement for the event can be observed just about everywhere, among the fans and the teams. In addition to those interested in the Super Bowl for the sporting element, many more will be paying attention on February 12 simply for the entertainment that accompanies the Super Bowl.
We are, of course, referring to the famed half-time show, which features Rihanna this year. Even the ads that will be displayed during the event are something to look forward to if history is anything to go by.
Given the magnitude of the Super Bowl event, there is understandably a lot of preparation on the part of the league and the spectators. In this article, we will explore some of the preparations underway for the 2023 Super Bowl. Let’s get into it.
The Stadium
If you are reading this article, you are probably interested in the Super Bowl enough to know it will be hosted at the State Farm Stadium in Arizona. What you might not know, however, is the extent of efforts that go into preparing this stadium for the event.
The State Farm Stadium was the venue of a lot of events last year, including various concerts and the Fiesta Bowl. This kind of traffic tends to affect the quality of the turf, which is why a new turf field had to be grown specifically for the Super Bowl event. The process of growing the field started about a year ago and will continue until they are installed at the stadium.
Growing a proper turf field for an event such as the Super Bowl is essential for a number of reasons. First, a lot of activities occur on the turf apart from the game. This includes the half-time show, the pre-game show and the post-game show.
Furthermore, a low-quality turf field poses the threat of injuries to the players participating in the Super Bowl game. For instance, in the Week 1 game of the Chiefs, which was held at the State Farm Stadium, head coach Andy Reid cited the turf as one of the factors that contributed to the injuries of Harrison Butker and Trent McDuffie. By all indications, the NFL is working hard to avoid such problems at Super Bowl 2023.
The Half-Time Show
The half-time show is undoubtedly one of the major attractions of the Super Bowl. Over the years, we have witnessed many iconic artists grace the Super Bowl stage, from Shakira and Jennifer Lopez to the Weeknd to Lady Gaga. However, this year’s half-time show performer is none other than Rihanna, as was announced on September 22, 2023.
While we don’t know much about the performance yet, there are plenty of reasons to be excited. Rihanna recently dropped a teaser video about a Super Bowl performance. Furthermore, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Rihanna explained that she wants to incorporate different aspects of entertainment and things that she enjoys.
There’s not yet a lot of information about what songs the pop star is going to be performing or if there are going to be any guest artists. However, since the half-time show is typically around 14 minutes, you can reasonably expect a medley of Rihanna’s biggest songs.
The Teams
After an exciting postseason, we are finally left with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs as the teams competing for the ultimate prize at the Super Bowl. Philly had a relatively easy route to the Super Bowl goal, especially if you consider that the Chiefs had to deal with injuries to several key players. It will nevertheless be interesting to watch how things play out. Particularly exciting is the clash between Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts.
Current betting odds already have the Chiefs as the underdog. However, nothing is set in stone when it comes to high-stake games like this. No doubt, both teams are working hard to secure the title on February 12.
Super Bowl Preparation for Fans
Whether attending the Super Bowl in person or watching from home, there are many ways fans are preparing for the Super Bowl. For those who are going to be physically present in Arizona, there are several concerts and events to explore, such as the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest from February 9 to February 11, the Fanatics Super Bowl Party on February 11, the Sports Illustrated’s Super Bowl LVII Party on February 11, and so on. If you intend to attend any of these events, securing your ticket early is advisable.
For fans who won’t be in the stadium, the event will air on FOX. Those without cable can also catch the Super Bowl live on Hulu+, fuboTV, or Sling TV. Of course, for many fans, preparations for the Super Bowl also include setting up for a ‘watch party’ and procuring food for guests.
Final Thoughts
The Super Bowl is certainly a grand event and one that understandably gets people excited. The 2023 edition is already around the corner, and the league and fans are preparing to make it the best Super Bowl yet.
