State Farm Stadium: The modern megastructure hosting Super Bowl LVII
The NFL has selected Glendale, Arizona, to host Super Bowl LVII between the Eagles and Chiefs at the state-of-the-art State Farm Stadium. A state-of-the-art stadium that normally seats 63,400 spectators but on February 12th, it will hold close to 73,000.
With this designation, the NFL continued its tradition of looking for locations where good weather is characteristic for the event's attendees to enjoy a very pleasant weekend.
The home of the Arizona Cardinals offers many possibilities and is regularly chosen to host all kinds of sporting competitions. This was the case in 2008 and 2015 with two other finals; in 2017 with the NCAA college basketball Final Four; or three games of the 2016 Copa America Centenario.
This State Farm Stadium was inaugurated in 2006. Since then, it has been equipped with technologies that we are now getting to know more closely with the remodelling of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and we find them super-novel. Among them are the retractable playing surface and retractable roof.
The Eagles and Chiefs will meet on a grid of natural grass that rises in a single tray from the approximately one-metre-deep pit in which it is contained, allowing an additional floor to be deployed for other types of events.
The Cardinals' coliseum roof was the biggest challenge in construction, as it operates on a slope and requires a 480-power system to move the two panels that make it up.
It was the first venue in North America to feature these innovations and set the trend for others to follow. With its remodelling in 2014 and 2017, it has managed to remain up to date and continue to host sporting and other events.
Super Bowl precedents
Since its opening in 2006, the NFL has relied on State Farm Stadium in Glendale to host two Super Bowls. The first was the 42nd edition in 2008. It featured the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. The New York Giants won 17-14 in front of 71,101 fans.
The second one took place in 2015. Tom Brady returned to Arizona to win the 49th Lombardi Trophy game and earn his fourth championship ring. The quarterback from San Mateo, California beat the Seahawks (28-24) thanks to his 328 yards passing and four touchdowns that earned him his third Super Bowl MVP.
Without a doubt, the setting for these meetings was up to the task. Dozens of celebrities from all walks of life could be seen in the 88 boxes and more than 7,500 club seats.
In the stands, the spectacle is sure to be a spectacle, but we can only hope that Philadelphia and Kansas City will match it on the pitch.
