Going Inside The Planning For Las Vegas’ First Super Bowl

There have been 57 Super Bowls in NFL history — and Super Bowl LVIII has a different buzz about it than any of the previous ones because of the host city, Las Vegas.

When the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority hired Sam Joffray to be the president and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee, he knew he needed a great team of people to make Sin City’s first Super Bowl a success.

Among that team is Jenny Bundschuh, vice president of event and venue operations, and Katie Rada, director of events and operations. These two women are tasked with the logistics of the biggest single-day sporting event in the world.

“There is no place on earth quite like Las Vegas and there is no event comparable to the Super Bowl,” Bundschuh said. “The uniqueness of hosting a Super Bowl for the first time in Las Vegas is heightened by our city’s reputation as a world-class event destination along with the prestige of the Super Bowl itself. Those two factors elevate the occasion to a level unmatched.”

Joffray pointed out on a recent episode of the SportsTravel podcast how Las Vegas has been a Super Bowl hub for a long time fans flock to Las Vegas every year to watch the game and have a weekend with their friends. So when there are already thousands of fans coming into Las Vegas for a normal Super Bowl, adding the actual game and festivities to the city is going to provide logistical challenges.

“There will inevitably be obstacles when hosting the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, but I like to look at these challenges as incredible opportunities,” Rada said. “While there are some similarities and differences compared to hosting the event in previous cities, the unique features of Las Vegas offer logistical advantages. The proximity of Allegiant Stadium to the resort corridor, along with the concentration of Super Bowl venues and events within a relatively compact geographic area, provides opportunities that many other cities don’t possess.” 

It’s All in The Details

Las Vegas was awarded Super Bowl LVIII in December 2021 and that’s when the planning process kicked off for the expansive Host Committee that includes 300 industry leaders who have volunteered their time to help the 15 full-time Host Committee staff members.

Putting together a Super Bowl in two years would be a challenge for any city, but that’s especially the case when Las Vegas does not have previous Super Bowl host experience.

“I think most people would be surprised if they knew the number of local community leaders and stakeholders that are guiding the planning process,” Bundschuh said. “Whether it be the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, resort and casino properties, law enforcement and public safety agencies, Clark County and surrounding jurisdictions, UNLV, the professional sports teams, the sports and entertainment venues, and numerous others … They all are actively engaged in ensuring that the Las Vegas’ first Super Bowl lives up to the high standards our city is known for.”

Las Vegas is known to throw a party and this year’s Super Bowl will be no exception. The Super Bowl Opening Night will be at Allegiant Stadium on February 5, The Super Bowl Experience will take over Mandalay Bay from February 7–10 and there are numerous nightclub and pool parties during the week.

“For tailgating, expect a unique Las Vegas-style experience,” Rada said. “Whether you opt for the NFL’s official tailgate, the exclusive On Location experience party, or one of the events at the resort properties on the strip, you’ll find distinct tailgating experiences only Las Vegas can offer.”

Bundschuh says things will look different at Allegiant Stadium for Super Bowl LVIII. Fan access, including parking, entry and security will not be the same as Raiders games.

Viva Las Vegas

Las Vegas was once a pariah when it came to professional sports. With gambling now not only tolerated in the NFL but advertised and encouraged, the league has done a 180 on the city.

“The Raiders, Allegiant Stadium and marquee events such as the Las Vegas Grand Prix have positioned Las Vegas for success on the global sports and entertainment stage,” Bundschuh said. “Not to mention the successful collaboration between the NFL and Las Vegas for the re-emergence of the Pro Bowl Games and the hugely successful NFL Draft in 2022.”

“Another thing that makes Las Vegas unique, even as a first-time host for the Super Bowl, is that it is recognized as the entertainment capital of the world and more recently, a top-tier destination for sports,” Rada said.

Unlike Joffray and some of the other members of the hos committee, Bundschuh and Rada were locals long before the idea of a Super Bowl in Las Vegas became possible. Bundschuh came to Las Vegas in 2014 and spent three years working for UNLV and Caesar’s Entertainment before taking a job as sports marketing and special events manager at LVCVA in 2017.

“My experience with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority was incredible and I am forever grateful for it,” Bundschuh said. “I had the privilege of being on the LVCVA team responsible for crafting the bid to host Super Bowl LVIII and to see it come to fruition is everything to me. I’ve gathered valuable lessons not only from the events I worked on during my time at LVCVA but also throughout my career.”

For Rada, a UNLV alum and Las Vegas native who previously worked as a premium hospitality concierge for the Raiders, the connection working on this Super Bowl in her hometown is a surreal moment.

“My passion for sports started when I was a kid and seeing my hometown transform into the sports capital of the world is nothing short of amazing,” Rada said. “I’ve personally witnessed the city’s continuous growth and am constantly amazed by its groundbreaking achievements year after year. As the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas approaches, I couldn’t be more excited to be part of this momentous event.”