Months of preparation go into the biggest game night in the world, the Super Bowl. Hundreds of people work tirelessly together to ensure the success of the event. Among the countless moving parts, there is one aspect that the game can’t do without, the field. As with every year, the field was taken care of like a baby, ensuring that it was in top shape for the big game.

The NFL spent two years preparing the field for the Super Bowl LVII. However, fans noticed several issues with the turf during the game, which took place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. However, despite the league’s considerable efforts, the field presented many problems that players faced in the 38-35 matchup, The issue sparked massive discontent from the NFL world.

Why was the Super Bowl turf not up to the mark?

The Kansas City Chiefs won against the equally powerful Philadelphia Eagles in a thrilling game. But there were complaints that players slipped on the grass of the stadium. They stumbled face-first on the sod. Because of the marshy status of the field, at least a dozen Eagles switched their cleats in the first half in order to get a better grip. Even the lead QB of Philly changed from his Jordan 11 cleats to Jordan 1 cleats. 

George Toma AKA the ‘Sodfather’ the recipient of the the Pioneer Award bestowed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for innovative contributions to the league, revealed that the field was too wet. 

In an interview with ESPN, Toma said that the field was watered on the morning of Wednesday before the game. Then the field was rolled into the stadium using the hydraulic system. It allows for the turf to soak sunlight.

Fans react strongly to the ‘Sodfather’s’ revelation:

According to Toma, the field should have remained in the sun for the entire Wednesday morning to dry out before being rolled in. But the NFL field director, Ed Mangan, did not listen to this advice. “So, what he does, he waters the hell out of it and puts it right into the stadium and that’s it. Never sees sunlight again. He can’t do that.”

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The 97-year-old noted that a tarp had been placed over the field to shield it from the before and halftime show practices but was informed that during the pregame period, the field was rotting.  Fans took to twitter to express their discontent about the state of the field after the revelation:

The problems with the field were undoubtedly frustrating for both players and fans, and the ‘God of Sod’ even announced that he was done with the NFL. Despite the issues with the field, the Super Bowl remains the most-watched annual event globally, with millions of people tuning in to watch the game each year. As the NFL looks ahead to future Super Bowls, they must ensure that the turf is in top shape to avoid any issues during the game.

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