The NFL will host about 22,000 fans at the Super Bowl LV, according to a series of plans announced Friday morning. This total includes free tickets for 7,500 vaccinated health professionals, in addition to 14,500 paid services.
These numbers mean the league will fill Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium with about a third of its normal capacity of 65,000. All fans will be subject to the NFL’s regular season stadium protocols, which include the mandatory use of masks and social distance through seats. During the regular season, the NFL received about 1.2 million fans in 116 games, where local regulations allowed participation in sporting events.
The league said it developed its plan for the Super Bowl in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control, the Florida Department of Health and the region’s hospitals and health systems. All invited health professionals will have received both doses of vaccination, and most will come from Tampa and central Florida. The rest will be selected and sent from the local communities of each NFL team.
“These dedicated health professionals continue to put their own lives at risk to serve others, and we owe them our continued gratitude,” said Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. “We hope in a small way that this initiative will inspire our country and recognize these true American heroes. This is also an opportunity to promote the importance of vaccination and appropriate health practices, including wearing masks in public settings ”.