Rihanna’s halftime show only made ‘terrible’ Super Bowl field worse

Rihanna’s blockbuster Super Bowl halftime show has been blamed for making the playing conditions for the NFL into a slippery dip.

TOPSHOT - Barbadian singer Rihanna performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on February 12, 2023. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

Rihanna’s Super Bowl 2023 halftime show apparently contributed to making the field a giant Slip ‘N Slide.

The NY Post reports during the big game on Monday (AEDT), the field conditions at the State Farm Stadium in Phoenix were less than ideal, with Chiefs and Eagles players slipping all over the natural grass.

On Monday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport explained that the slippery conditions were much worse in the second half due to the halftime show stage during Rihanna’s 13-minute performance.

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“The halftime show, which basically spanned the entire field, it pressed the grass, it heated it up and got it slick,” Rapoport said on “The Pat McAfee Show,” after the host called the field conditions an “embarrassment”.

“It basically increased the moisture in the grass because it didn’t allow it to breathe because it pressed down on the grass. Then you take the halftime show off the grass and it’s a little bit wetter, and in the third quarter everybody was sliding around.”

Rihanna stunned with her Super Bowl halftime show. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

The giant stage probably didn’t help the turf. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

Fox Sports NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw said he didn’t understand the NFL’s decision to paint the field, which he tied to the playing surface being slippery.

Replay footage from the Chiefs’ 38-35 Super Bowl victory over Eagles shows players slipping on a number of occasions during the game.

Eagles kicker Jake Elliott nearly twisted his left ankle when he slid on a kick-off in the third quarter and fell to the ground.

The NFL should be ashamed for this joke of a field for the SUPER BOWL. pic.twitter.com/GgnyYc09M4

— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) February 13, 2023

The field conditions at the Super Bowl were an issue and frankly embarrassing considering the magnitude of the game. These are just some examples. pic.twitter.com/Qd7Wjk8WgS

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) February 13, 2023

Philadelphia quarterback, Jalen Hurts switched his cleats between the first and second quarters due to the field conditions.

Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick wasn’t happy about the playing conditions, and said that it was “the worst field” he’s ever played on.

“Y’all watched the game, y’all saw it, there was a lot of slipping all over that field,” Reddick said.

“It didn’t even matter, I changed my cleats, still had seven studs and was still was slipping so, I don’t know.

“You know, I don’t want to use it as an excuse, I’m not that type of guy, I’m not going to make excuses. Still props to them, they still won, they’re champs, they should enjoy it.”

Patrick Mahomes fell victim to the slippery field. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Australian Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata, who said he’s “not a grass expert,” described the conditions as “terrible” and similar to “playing on a water park”.

The NFL spent two years preparing the grass for Super Bowl 57, according to Joe Pompliano, founder of the newsletter “Huddle Up,” which breaks down the business and money behind sports. The grass was grown at a local sod farm in Phoenix, and was installed two weeks prior to the big game, with it being rolled out each morning for daily sunshine.

The natural grass field at State Farm Stadium has rollout grass, which sits on a 40-inch deep tray that measures 234 feet wide and 403 feet long. The field travels 740 feet when it goes in and outside the stadium and the process takes about an hour.

The reported total cost of the grass engineering for Super Bowl 57 was $800,000. Las Vegas, which hosts next season’s Super Bowl, is the only other NFL stadium with similar technology.

This article originally appeared in the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Rihanna’s halftime show only made ‘terrible’ Super Bowl field worse