Allegiant Stadium’s Roll-out Field, Space Station Look To Be Center Stage During Super Bowl In Vegas – News18

LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas Raiders proprietor Mark Davis referred to as his new house the Death Star in 2020 — and the identify caught.

Allegiant Stadium, with its black facade, in truth resembles the ominous house station from the “Star Wars” film franchise that was able to destroying planets.

The futuristic stadium takes middle stage on Feb. 11 when the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers meet within the first-ever Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

And just like the distinctive metropolis that surrounds it, the stadium has some options that set it other than others across the NFL. Among essentially the most notable is the taking part in floor.

Because the Raiders insist on taking part in on grass, even in a dome, the sector spends more often than not outdoors in daylight and is rolled in on a tray for video games. Last yr’s Super Bowl host, the Arizona Cardinals’ stadium, makes use of an identical switch system.

The NFL takes over administration of the sector on the subject of the Super Bowl, and the taking part in floor is monitored intently. No one needs a repeat of what occurred final yr in Glendale. Players slipped on that grass within the Super Bowl, which the Chiefs received 38-35 over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“This surface has been nurtured from the sod farm all the way to the Super Bowl,” mentioned Jeff Miller, NFL govt vp for communications. “Its maintenance is measured by a series of tools and metrics. … Our field manager expert has been on top of this for many weeks and is on site frequently and will be throughout the next couple of weeks in anticipation of the game.”

Former longtime NFL groundskeeper George Toma, referred to as the “Sodfather,” was important of how the sector was maintained final yr, however expressed confidence in new area director Nick Pappas.

“You’ll see at Las Vegas now, they’ll have the best playing field ever,” Toma mentioned.

Toma, who turned 95 on Friday, mentioned he wasn’t in one of the best of well being.

“Last year, I told my ground crew, ‘I doubt I’ll be here with you next year. If I’m in heaven, I’ll be looking down and seeing what a beautiful field you have or I’ll be in hell looking up and seeing what type of roots system you have,’” Toma mentioned.

Other notable stadium options embrace:

— Huge lanai doorways on the north finish going through Interstate 15 and the Strip. Those doorways, that are 80 by 215 toes, could be opened to create extra of an outside ingredient, however have remained closed throughout Raiders video games even late within the season when temperatures cool.

— The Al Davis Memorial Torch is 92 toes excessive and surrounded by a round bar. It’s an digital torch “lit” earlier than each Raiders house sport. Former heavyweight champion and present Henderson resident Mike Tyson and recording artist and actor Ice Cube had been amongst those that turned on the torch this season. The NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces additionally had the honors after profitable their leagues’ championships.

The custom traces again to 2011 when John Madden lit an precise torch when the staff was primarily based in Oakland, California. Another torch stays lit outdoors the Raiders headquarters in Henderson, Nevada.

— In entrance of the torch, in an space that overlooks the top zone seats, the Raiders’ 19-particular person band performs earlier than video games and performs in timeouts all through. Sometimes different performers similar to Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons be part of the band at halftime.

— Every NFL stadium has VIP seating, however Allegiant has a few of its most unique seating truly positioned on the sector simply past the north finish zone. There are 29 cubicles, every sitting as much as 15 folks. Fans who occupy these cubicles obtain wait service, entry to personal bars and a particular entrance.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)