The average Super Bowl halftime show only lasts around 13 minutes, but the multi-million dollar production takes months of extreme planning and coordination with thousands of people working behind the scenes. As one of the world’s most viewed performances, the show can’t afford a single mistake or disruption. What’s the main challenge? Setting up a fully-functional stage in a matter of 6 to 7 minutes without damaging the field.
Planning, Coordination, and Execution
The biggest logistical challenge behind the Super Bowl halftime show is setting up the stage the minute the first half of the game ends. The stage itself is wheeled onto the field using about 40 separate carts, which each require about 10-12 people to move. On top of the stage, an additional 15 to 20 carts carrying audio equipment get transported to the field. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, hundreds of trucks arrive to the venue with deliveries of stage materials, props, electrical equipment, generators, and much more. Every minor detail including delivery windows, returns and item replacements, and storage locations are taken into consideration. Just one small hiccup in this process can change the outlook on one of the biggest days of the year.
Frank Supovitz, former Senior Vice President of Events for the National Football League (NFL) commented on the logistics of the Super Bowl. “The Super Bowl is a living, breathing organism,” Frank said. “It’s subject to surprises at any corner and any level.”
Planning and coordination have been, and always will be, a major part of logistics. The Super Bowl is no different, as military-like precision is required to successfully pull off the single biggest sporting event on Earth. Although most people believe that logistics only involves moving something from point A to point B, it’s the planning and execution behind each delivery and setup that makes all the difference.
