What covid-19 restrictions will there be for Super Bowl LV 2021?

This 2021 Super Bowl is the 55th in the competition’s history. It will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on 7 February 2021. It will be played between the two winners of the respective Conference Finals - the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs - and the prize on offer is the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Despite all these fundamentals being in place, however, there is going to be one fundamental difference between this showpiece final and those that have come before. The fans.

Super Bowl LV: covid-19 restrictions

There is certainly no lack of interest from supporters of the Chiefs and Bucs, as well as NFL fans across the nation and the globe, but the number allowed inside the Tampa home stadium is to be significantly reduced as part of the health protocol surrounding the current coronavirus pandemic. We will, unsurprisingly witness the lowest attendance in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl LV news:

The good thing, we should remember, is that for some time there was a belief that the venue would be devoid of supporters altogether. So the fact that around 22,000 people - just short of a third of the capacity - will be there is something to be appreciated, and will add to the occasion. As well as about 14,500 screaming fans that have paid for tickets, there will also be 7,500 healthcare workers who have been handed free passes by the league as a thank you for their incredible efforts over the past year, efforts that, unfortunately, will have to continue for months to come. Those front line workers will all have received the covid-19 vaccination and the majority come from Tampa and the surrounding area.

Guidance to those coming is stated as follows on the official NFL website:

"Your health and safety, along with that of our players, coaches, and staff is – and has always been – priority number one. As NFL fans, we're all in this together when it comes to taking on the common opponent covid-19. Together we help protect each other – it takes all of us!

"To that end, we have partnered with state and local officials along with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to develop some new protocols to help maximize your confidence, safety and comfort in coming to Raymond James Stadium and enjoying a seamless experience from the parking lot and turnstiles to concourses and ultimately, your seats."

Super Bowl LV: keeping your distance

Once inside the Raymond James Stadium you will see that the front few rows of seats closest to the field are closed off to ensure the players and the athletes are kept a good distance apart. will be closed off to create distance between fans and players. Supporters will also have plenty of individual space with stadium seats blocked off.

When buying a ticket, attendees have to confirm that the following aspects are true for them and their guests upon arrival on the 7 February, and if not they will not turn up:

- Within the last 14 days, ticketholders have not tested positive for, or been exposed to, covid-19

- Within the last 48 hours, ticketholders have not experienced symptoms of covid-19 (e.g., fever of 100.4⁰ F or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, or any other symptoms associated with covid-19 identified by the CDC)

- Within the last 14 days, ticketholders have not travelled to any state or international territory identified by federal or applicable local governments as being subject to travel or quarantine advisories due to covid-19.

Super Bowl LV: don’t come advice for high risk

The CDC has issued guidance to older adults and people who have serious underlying medical conditions that they would be best not to come to the game, disappointing as that may be. With those people at higher risk of severe illness from covid-19, they are asked to consider the risk to themselves.

Ticketholders must also agree to follow the physical distancing guidelines and processes set up, and confirm that they will not sell or transfer game tickets to anyone other than family members with whom they have been sheltering or other trusted acquaintances. The alternative is if they are selling or transferring all game tickets (e.g. the full pod of tickets) in a single transaction.

Super Bowl LV: find out more

For the most up-to-date Super Bowl LV news, including all the event information, download and register for the NFL OnePass app at NFL.com/OnePass. Here at AS English we’ll continue to bring you all the latest news, opinion and points of interest in our daily blog as we build up to the big day.