The NFL has not made any final decisions about capacity at Super Bowl LV in Tampa, pushing back on a report that said attendance will be capped at 20% at Raymond James Stadium. NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said there is “no set capacity figure at this time as we continue to monitor the ongoing pandemic with more than three months to go.” McCarthy said 20% is a possible outcome of ongoing discussions, but it is far from certain. McCarthy said, “There have been 19 teams that have already or have been authorized by public authorities to host regular-season games. The average has been around 20% with fans seated in pods and everyone wearing face coverings. Among the scenarios we are exploring is a capacity of around that figure. But we anticipate it could grow as we get closer to the game” (Ben Fischer, SBJ Unpacks).
HOST COMMITTEE ALSO DENIES REPORT: Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee President & CEO Rob Higgins also "confirmed there is no finalized seating capacity." Higgins said, “We’ll be following conditions in the county and the state, and the League will make a determination based on approvals locally.” In Tampa, Knight & Stroud note local organizers and business leaders are "counting on the game -- the fifth hosted by Tampa -- to recoup some of the millions lost in tourism dollars last spring when two globally popular sporting events" -- the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and WrestleMania 36 -- were "called off or moved elsewhere due to the coronavirus" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/29).
