The San Francisco 49ers were reportedly dissatisfied with the field at UNLV, where the team will practice this week in preparation for Super Bowl 58 against the Kansas City Chiefs. CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported that the 49ers found the field "a bit soft for their liking" after sending equipment staff and grounds team members to assess the conditions in Las Vegas last week.
Commissioner Roger Goodell held a press conference on Monday and was asked about the situation. He asserted that the league has deemed the fields "playable" despite the 49ers' reservations.
Roger Goodell said at his press conference today that the league sent experts out to UNLV, and declared the fields "playable" despite the Niners' protestations. https://t.co/xIp6KXaFtk
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 5, 2024
According to Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group, 23 experts evaluated the UNLV field conditions and declared them in line with league standards, although they may differ from what the 49ers are accustomed to.
In preparation for the NFC champions' arrival, the NFL placed natural grass over UNLV's artificial turf. The 49ers had their first close-up look at the field conditions during a walk-through on Monday at noon and will likely be asked their opinion of the surface during Monday night's "Super Bowl Opening Night" media event.
The 49ers are the designated road team for Super Bowl 58 and will utilize UNLV's facilities ahead of Sunday's game. Meanwhile, the Chiefs will practice at the Las Vegas Raiders' facilities in Henderson, Nevada.
Jones outlined three options for the 49ers.
- Proceed with their scheduled practice on the existing field.
- Bring in new, firmer sod that could be ready for practice this week.
- Negotiate with the NFL to also practice at the Las Vegas Raiders' facility.
While the 49ers reportedly explored alternate practice options, it appears likely that they will work with the provided facilities since there isn't a safety issue; rather, the 49ers simply prefer different field conditions.