Levi's® Stadium upgraded to host global event

For decades, Tenderstream member Populous has worked alongside the National Football League (NFL) to plan and deliver the Super Bowl, following a request in 1985 for the firm to expand the facilities for Super Bowl XIX.  Much of the global event’s overlay work remains unseen, even as it unfolded last weekend when the Seattle Seahawks faced the New England Patriots at Levi's® Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. 

Populous are responsible for the host stadium facilities, operations planning and management, and overseeing all aspects of building procurement and construction for game day operations. In recent seasons, the firm has collaborated with Super Bowl host cities, designing downtown masterplans and spectator areas for festivals and events. This year, Populous ensured the Levi’s® Stadium met this event renewed, following a 200m USD, multi-year interior renovation, alongside a technology upgrade that included installing the largest outdoor 4K video boards in the NFL.

The scale of operations and venue footprint required for the Super Bowl dwarfs those of a regular season game, with security requirements necessitating extension of the outward perimeter by at least 300 feet, creating a campus that is home to all kinds of temporary structures, from operational buildings such as office trailers and security tents, to party sites and fan zones where the pre-game buzz is generated. Peak arrival times are anticipated to help plan staff numbers through the analysis of crowd flow and dynamics, including historical data gathered from past events, and a wayfinding strategy is developed to provide fans with a smooth experience when navigating the site. 

Todd Barnes, Populous Senior Principal, stated: "You must ensure the crossover between front-of-house and back-of-house spaces is integrated and nothing will cause a problem. We want an unmatched experience for fans and for the teams."

Lucy Nordberg

Tenderstream Head of Research

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