San Francisco ​49ers raise concerns over UNLV practice field conditions ahead of Super Bowl LVIII

NEW DELHI: Just one year after the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles expressed dissatisfaction with the Super Bowl LVII field, the NFL is facing a fresh set of complaints, this time from the San Francisco 49ers. Multiple members of the 49ers organization have raised concerns about the UNLV practice field in Las Vegas, where the team is preparing for Super Bowl LVIII.

According to a report by CBS Sports, 49ers representatives have criticized the field, alleging that it is overly soft and was inadequately prepared by the league. A team source informed Yahoo Sports that senior-level members of the franchise have reached out to the NFL, while players have been in contact with the NFL Players Association regarding the conditions. Despite the complaints, no resolution has been reached, and the 49ers are still practicing at the UNLV site.

The UNLV practice field has been a point of contention since last week, with several staff members reportedly finding the playing surface problematic. The primary grievance revolves around the league’s decision to lay down a sod surface over field turf just last week, resulting in what the source described as a “spongy” softness and noticeable “sod seams” that could pose footing issues throughout the week.

Although the Chiefs are considered the “home” team for the Super Bowl, allowing them to use the Raiders’ facilities for practices, the 49ers’ coaching staff and players took to the UNLV field on Monday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, during a media session, expressed the team’s intention to stick with the UNLV practice site, asserting that the surface is improving each day.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the concerns during his State of the League news conference on Monday, defending the field’s playability. He stated, “It is something we think all of our experts — as well as neutral field inspectors — have all said unanimously that it’s a playable field.”

However, a union source disputed Goodell’s claim that the players association had signed off on the field surface. The union is expected to address the matter in more detail during its news conference later in the week.

This situation marks the second consecutive Super Bowl employing a natural grass field with a “tray” system, allowing the surface to be rolled outside of a covered stadium for maintenance. Last year’s system faced criticism for creating a slick playing surface in Glendale, Arizona, affecting both teams. The Eagles, in particular, were upset about the field conditions, which they believed contributed to a sackless performance against Patrick Mahomes in a 38-35 loss.

(Inputs from agencies)

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