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Super Bowl: 22,000 tickets, free entry to 7,500 healthcare workers
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Cutout photos of people, including first responders and healthcare workers, sit in seats in Gillette Stadium before an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough, U.S., December 28, 2020. /AP

Cutout photos of people, including first responders and healthcare workers, sit in seats in Gillette Stadium before an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough, U.S., December 28, 2020. /AP

Super Bowl LV will include 22,000 fans at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, U.S., and 7,500 vaccinated health care workers are among the total approved by state health officials, the American National Football League (NFL) confirmed in a statement on Friday.

The NFL expressed an interest in bringing health care workers to the game last month and combined that mission with the existing stadium plan in Tampa.

Free tickets to the Super Bowl for health care workers at an average ticket price of just over $2,400 equates to more than $18 million.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the league owner's meetings that the NFL would make the pledge to "honor health care workers and thank them for their extraordinary service during the pandemic and also promote the importance of vaccination."

Ryan Succop #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lines up a field goal during the NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, U.S., December 13, 2020. /CFP

Ryan Succop #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lines up a field goal during the NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, U.S., December 13, 2020. /CFP

Raymond James Stadium has an existing capacity of 65,000 with the potential to add more than 5,000 seats.

But the February 7 game is not being held under typical circumstances.

Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville NFL teams all sold tickets and operated on game day at partial capacity this season with Florida's COVID-19 guidelines in place.

The Buccaneers, playing for the American National Football Conference (NFC) championship on Sunday, allowed up to 20 percent of the stadium capacity on game day during the regular season. The Buccaneers could become the first team to play for the Super Bowl in its home stadium.

Tom Brady #12 and Antonio Brown #81 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speak during their NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, U.S., November 29, 2020. /CFP

Tom Brady #12 and Antonio Brown #81 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speak during their NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, U.S., November 29, 2020. /CFP

Only masked fans were permitted, and the NFL plans to mandate masks for all spectators next month.

The NFL is permitting each of the league's other 31 teams – the Buccaneers being the exception – to invite four vaccinated health care workers from the home market of that team. All airfare and hotel costs will be paid for, and the league said it anticipates a combination of workers within the industry, from doctors, to custodial staff, nurses to receptionists, to be among the game's attendees.

Source(s): Reuters

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