MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Super Bowl LIV will be the first game ever played on the new field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Ed Mangan and his grounds crew completely resurfaced the field in preparation for the game, halftime show and celebration.
Mangan said it's important that the playing field is durable for pregame festivities as well — so a field that's already seen eight regular-season games wouldn't do.
The grounds crew started preparation for Sunday's game long before Kansas Citians knew Patrick Mahomes would lead the Chiefs to the franchise's first Super Bowl in 50 years.
"We started this grass almost two years ago in preparation for this, so it's not something produced everyday in a natural environment," Mangan said. "This is a special type of grass."
A famous former Arrowhead Stadium groundskeeper, perhaps the most famous grass guru in the world, also was in Miami for his 54th Super Bowl.
Yes, George Toma has been to every single Super Bowl ever played, helping oversee field preparations.
"It's a great honor to do all 54 Super Bowls, from the first one with the Chiefs and the Packers, and now we have the Chiefs and 49ers ," Toma said.
Of course, he's hardly objective. Toma said he's pulling for the Chiefs to win, partly because he once worked for the organization and partly in hopes the team can honor the late Lamar Hunt, who founded the franchise and moved it to Kansas City in 1963.
"I'd hate to say this for the 49ers, but I wish the Chiefs would win for Lamar Hunt because he named the Super Bowl, the Super Bowl," Toma said.
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