Super Bowl field turf likely a major storyline

The 49ers and Chiefs kick off Super Bowl LVIII later today at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and the "quality and maintenance" of the natural grass field will be a "major story line." A close microscope "will be placed on the NFL on Sunday" following the "fiasco of last year’s Super Bowl in Arizona," which was "marred by players constantly slipping and comparing the field to an ice rink" at State Farm Stadium. Arizona and Las Vegas have the "only NFL stadiums in which a natural grass field is placed on a tray that slides into the sun during the day and back into the stadium at night." The NFL has been "growing a similar Bermuda grass field for Sunday’s Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium, a field that is brand new and isn’t used by the Raiders during the regular season." Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “From what I gather, it’s in great condition. I think last year’s was a fluke" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/10).