The NFL is "putting the final touches" on Hard Rock Stadium over the coming week and a half to ensure the venue is "prepared to host" Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, according to David Furones of the South Florida SUN SENTINEL. Between NFL employees and hired contractors, 6,000 people are "working in and outside of Hard Rock Stadium in the final two weeks" before the game. NFL Senior Dir of Event Operations Eric Finkelstein said that the new grass installed was "specifically grown for use in the Super Bowl." The field has the midfield logo and two Super Bowl logos in place, but the end zones are "yet to be painted." Field goal posts also are "yet to go up on the field." Meanwhile, one of the "supporting elements" of the Super Bowl is the fan event, Super Bowl Experience, at Miami Beach Convention Center. It opens on Saturday and runs through Feb. 1. Finkelstein said that with the NFL celebrating its 100th season this year, there will be "surprise additional festivities surrounding the game on Feb. 2" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 1/22).
TOUGH TO CALL: YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson noted for the secondary ticket market, "early indicators were suggesting Super Bowl LIV was going to carry a monster price tag." TicketIQ on Monday "posted one of the more aggressive outlooks in a daily market update, simply titled, 'Are We Headed For First-Ever $10K Super Bowl?'" As of yesterday morning, get-in tickets on "many of the large sales platforms were hovering between $4,200-$4,500 for a single ticket." With the game still 11 days away, peak inventory has "yet to hit, so there's no telling where this market could end up." However, there is "always a chance for some unexpected havoc that could send prices swinging in either direction, from weather to hotel shortages to other unanticipated factors" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/21).
ONE SHELL OF A TIME: One of the more exclusive food packages being offered to Super Bowl LIV attendees is the $5,000 "Oysters and Pearls Package" by Centerplate, Hard Rock Stadium's concessionaire. A maximum of 10 suiteholders have until the end of the day tomorrow to pre-order the package, which includes "one dozen oysters on the half shell, freshly shucked and served with traditional accompaniments; sustainably farmed and harvested caviar with crème fraiche and homemade potato blinis; a bottle of Dom Perignon Brut 2008 Vendage, served in commemorative flutes; and a cultivated Akoya pearl bracelet." Proceeds will go to the Ocean Conservancy, the host committee's official Ocean Partner (David Broughton, SBJ Research).
