Roughly a month away from Super Bowl LVIII, the NFL might have a problem.
Ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders season finale against the Denver Broncos, Scotty Gange of 9News Denver revealed brutal field conditions at Allegiant Stadium, at least in the end zones.
The playing surface looks awful today in Vegas. Sad. #9sports pic.twitter.com/cBzD94Ad7z
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) January 7, 2024
The multi-purpose stadium, which cost $1.9 billion, opened in 2020 and has two retractable fields. UNLV also plays home games there and prefers to play on artificial turf, while the Raiders play on grass, which receives sunlight and includes an irrigation and drainage system. Fitted with all the necessary features to keep the field immaculate, it only furthers the mystery surrounding how parts of the field look as Feb. 10 quickly approaches.
Are we back in Oakland or… ? pic.twitter.com/sgz6DZlk08
— KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (@KOAColorado) January 7, 2024
The league should be especially concerned as only a year ago, both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs complained of slippery conditions during Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. While overwatering of the field was ultimately blamed, State Farm Stadium is similar to Allegiant Stadium in that both feature retractable natural grass fields, meaning this year's game might face the same issues.
Considering the problems already visible at the Raiders' home and recent history, the NFL must be on high alert to ensure things are in tip-top shape for the game of games this time around.
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