Super Bowl weather: Kickoff temperatures could be record-setting at SoFi Stadium for Rams vs. Bengal

When the Rams and Bengals play in Super Bowl LVI, they could set a record for the hottest kickoff temperature in Super Bowl history. Temperatures in the Los Angeles metro area are pushing near 90 degrees. The current record for a Super Bowl is 82 degrees set both in Southern California. And no, SoFi Stadium isn’t an indoor stadium even though it has a roof protecting the fans and players from the elements.

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Except this year’s game isn’t in a dome, is it? Technically no, but clearly our word is not going to deter everyone from thinking it is.

The game is typically played in warmer climates, though it has also been held indoors 20 times in 55 years. SoFi Stadium earned the right to host Super Bowl LVI, though this year’s contest could set records for the highest kickoff temperature in Super Bowl history. As of Feb. 9, AccuWeather reported a rare heat advisory in Los Angeles with the kickoff temperature potentially climbing as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit. For reference, this time of year in Los Angeles tends to be in the mid-60s.

So how does that impact the game? Fair question. It most likely won’t. SoFi Stadium is an indoor-outdoor venue. Its large canopy encompasses the field and while the sides remain open, the arena is able to maintain a decent internal temperature. It can get a little hot on the field level with the turf if temperatures continue to climb. And that may happen on Sunday.

Inside edge

For more insights, we caught up with The Athletic’s Chargers beat writer, Daniel Popper.

Question: At what time of day are weather conditions most favorable in the stadium?

Popper: The field at SoFi can get a little stuffy in extreme heat, and there is a heat advisory in place for Inglewood from Wednesday through Sunday. But they covered the stadium to protect the field from the SoCal sun. So they have a mechanism in place to defend against that. Plus, the sun will be pretty low in the sky by game time. Sunset is at 5:36.

Q: How much of an impact do the open sides have? Can it impact special teams or overall game play?

DP: As far as the wind, they designed the stadium to accentuate the ocean breezes. The open sides of the stadium create that air flow. So there is always some light wind. Nothing major, though. It’s usually quite pleasant.

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Q: Are there any design flaws you’ve noticed capable of being affected by the weather? Think Dallas’ sunny blind spot near midfield when it plays afternoon games.

DP: No design flaws. It’s pretty close to a perfect stadium (besides the food on Chargers game days).

Here’s the location and kickoff temperatures from each of the first 55 Super Bowls played

Super Bowl weather fast facts

Over 55 years, the NFL was bound to experience a number of conditions on Super Bowl Sunday. Here are two things that stood out:

• The current record for in-game temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit. It was set in 1973 at Super Bowl VII and matched in 2003 at Super Bowl XXXVII. Both games were played in Southern California – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1973) and Qualcomm Stadium (2003) – and both winners are franchises well equipped for the heat – Miami Dolphins (1973) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2003). Super Bowl LVI could break this record, given the heat advisory warnings around Los Angeles.
• The coldest Super Bowl can be defined in a few different ways. Super Bowl LII (2018) in Minneapolis registered a record-setting low temperature of -6 degrees, but the game was indoors. There have only been three outdoor Super Bowls where the kickoff temperature was below 50 degrees. The most recent was Super Bowl XLVIII (2013), but the coldest was in 1972. Tulane Stadium hosted the game on a day where the high was 43 degrees and the low was 24 degrees. It’s games like those that justify having four of the past five Super Bowls indoors.

(Photo of SoFi Stadium: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; The Athletic may receive an affiliate commission if you open an account with BetMGM through links contained in the above article.)

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