KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Last-minute preparations are underway at Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl LV.
It takes two years to plan a Super Bowl, according to the NFL, let alone during a pandemic.
"It might look a little bit different for a Super Bowl this year, but certainly the excitement is there," Jon Barker, NFL vice president/head of live event production and operations, said.
At this point, Barker said, work is right on track. Fresh grass has been laid, and the Super Bowl trophy logos were painted on the field Tuesday.
"We've not obviously got the teams in, so once we get all the logos established, stencils in, we'll start dropping logos in the end zones," Ed Mangan, NFL field director, said.
Super Bowl LV marks the first time in NFL history that a team has played in its home stadium for the Lombardi trophy. The NFL said work is underway to make the stadium neutral ground.
This year, it's the NFC's turn to be the home team, meaning the Tampa Bay Buccanneers will be the home team and use its own practice facility and locker rooms.
As of Tuesday, the NFL is still deciding whether or not the Tampa Bay will be allowed to use its signature pirate ship cannons.
"They will put in their requests as to what they like to do ritual wise within the game, and then we will review it," Eric Finkelstein, NFL senior director of event planning, said.
COVID-19 concerns will make the Super Bowl experience much different than years past, but fans can still get involved.
Fans can submit a photo of themselves or a loved one online to be a cardboard cutout in the stands. The cost is $100 and some proceeds will benefit the local charity, Feeding Tampa Bay.