The Semiconductors That Make the Super Bowl a Global Event

This weekend thousands of semiconductors will be hard at work making Super Bowl LIX a game to remember.

The Super Bowl is one of the world's largest and most anticipated sporting events, drawing millions of viewers from the crowded stadium seats to those at home glued to their TV screens. The buzz of excitement around the game, the dazzling displays during the halftime show, and its iconic commercials are all thanks to the vast array of electronic components powering every play-by-play moment. From showstopping lighting displays to capturing every second via hundreds of cameras, electronics are the backbone of the Super Bowl experience.

Without these microscopic powerhouses, the Super Bowl might not have become the massive event it is today. Without light-emitting (diodes), graphic processing units (GPUs), and every tiny sensor in between, this multi-billion game might not have inspired the hundreds of thousands of sports fans to tune in yearly.  

The Super Bowl Reaches Thousands Thanks to High-Performance Communications

One of the Super Bowl’s most vital aspects is its ability to reach a global audience. Today, the Super Bowl is broadcast to over 130 countries, reaching super fans who live just about everywhere. In 2024, an estimated 123.7 million viewers tuned in to watch, making it the largest audience for a single-network telecast.  

Likewise, not everyone in the jam-packed stadium can get front-row seats to the action. Even then, catching tiny details across an entire football field filled with players, coaches, referees, and other personnel can be challenging. The stadium must be equipped with high-definition cameras strategically placed to capture every angle of the game through state-of-the-art lenses for perfect video images.  

More than 240 Sony Cameras will be used to cover this year’s Super Bowl. Fox Sports, the production company behind the Super Bowl, will use Sony BVM reference-level monitors to capture every moment of the game. These monitors will allow on-site color grading to create an accurate image for fans worldwide. Drones, such as Sony’s SkyCam, will provide aerial shots, which are possible thanks to lightweight and highly efficient sensors.  

Sony will also “take advantage of work it has done this year with Sports Media Technologies (SMT), SkyCam, and Vizrt “to cobble together a recipe” to do augmented reality with the SkyCam…Not only does the setup allow Fox Sports to put a live yellow line on the field of play with its SkyCam shots, but also to put graphic billboards and other 2-D graphics on the field and to fly around them with the SkyCam as if they were real objects.”

To broadcast these amazing graphics to millions of viewers worldwide, satellite trucks, fiber optic cables, data centers, and more are required to reach their vast audience. These systems rely on specialized electronic components like signal amplifiers and converters to ensure seamless delivery with minimal latency. High-speed processors and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) components within data centers handle the massive amount of data generated by the high-definition video streams and other data generated by the millions of sensors used in various equipment.

In recent years, to enhance the viewer experience, the Super Bowl has continually improved its broadcast with high-powered GPUs. Every real-time statistic, player bio, and first-down marker featured on screen over the game is thanks to continuous developments in augmented reality, like Sony and SMT’s previous foray this year.  

This doesn’t even cover the intensity of the halftime show.

“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is a challenge unlike any other project we’ve been a part of,” explains James Coker, head of engineering and technical management at Funicular Goats. “There are less than five minutes to set up and deliver a cinematic concert to millions of people, and the Sony Cinema Line cameras provide the perfect combination of full-frame sensor with broadcast compatibility to work seamlessly within the show’s structure and achieve this challenge.”

Millions of LEDs Help Illuminate the Super Bowl and Halftime Show

For the Super Bowl, lighting plays a vital role in the event’s success. To elevate the performance of the players and entertainers, stadiums need lights, and lots of them. Without sufficient lighting, the Super Bowl wouldn’t have been nearly as much of a spectacle as it is today. To ensure the event is properly illuminated, that means hundreds of thousands of LEDs, cables, and wires to connect them all to a smart monitoring system that can be controlled remotely.

Last year, the Super Bowl was the “greenest in history,” thanks to updated LEDs. Samsung partnered with Allegiant Stadium to provide cutting-edge display technology, outfitting the 66,000-square-foot stadium with Samsung LED displays totaling more than 93 million pixels.  

“These large stadium lights will utilize white plus red, green, and blue plus amber LEDs, which will not only light the field during gameplay but will also deliver color effects for the crowd, as well as integral performances like the Usher’s Halftime show and Reba Mcentire’s National Anthem.”  

This upgrade reduced the power consumption needed for an event of this size by 49%, quickly reducing the stadium’s energy production by over 75% compared to outdated metal-halide lamps without toxicity.  

These lights are also integrated with smart control systems that adjust the brightness and color temperature based on the time of day, weather, and specific needs of the broadcast.

Furthermore, giant video walls and LED screens are scattered throughout the stadium and the field. These devices display game stats and instant replays alongside other casual entertainment, like the ever-popular Kiss Cam. The screens ensure fans stay engaged with the action, whether sitting in the nosebleed seats or right by the field.

The Complexity of the Super Bowl's Dual Sound Systems

Alongside video, the Super Bowl wouldn’t be able to climb the ranks to become one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year without crisp, clear audio. The sound system at the Super Bowl is designed to provide flawless audio coverage for the stadium crowd and viewers watching from home. This requires a combination of advanced microphones, speakers, and audio processors to create an immersive experience.

The stadium's sound system consists of thousands of strategically placed speakers, to provide clear and even sound distribution. These speakers are powered by amplifiers controlled by digital processors that adjust the output to suit the venue's acoustics. These systems also ensure that the sound quality remains consistent, even during large crowd events.

The audio equipment used during the halftime show is even more complex. Live audio feeds are often routed through processors to add effects, balance sound, and ensure clarity across various audio channels. This was even more complex in the past as the halftime show and the game used an entirely different system.

It was only last year, for the first time, that both events used the same sound system. According to news reports, it was the first time the same temporarily installed music PA system was used for the game’s play and entertainment performances.  

ATK Audiotek was the master behind the show in 2024. The company designed and managed the Super Bowl’s halftime show’s sound system for 2026, usually with a massive separate music PA system rolled out onto the field in 8 carts. The system, dedicated to the musical performances of the Super Bowl’s guest stars, was connected to the venue’s installed PA system, “which would be used as delay speakers to cover the upper reaches of seating, becoming an extension of the temporary music system for entertainment applications.”

However, due to the layout of State Farm Stadium, carts couldn’t be used, as the change wouldn’t happen fast enough to keep up with the tight production timeline. So, to make up for it, ATK planned on using an entirely new temporary L-Acoustics K2 system for both the halftime show and the game-play announcements.  

“We’re flying the entire PA again, except this year we’re not augmenting the house system,” says Kirk Powell, ATK's chief engineer. “Last year, we augmented what already existed; we just added clusters to the existing system. This year, we flew a completely separate PA system for the first time.”

“The existing house PA, a JBL VLA system, will be available for emergency paging needs,” he adds.

According to SVG News, implementing the temporary sound system had its own challenges. These were mainly due to Allegiant Stadium’s thin ETFE roofing.  

“It’s a cable-type ceiling, so you’re limited in where you can put clusters and things of that nature,” Powell told SVG, “The rigging and cable management was also a challenge, as was amplifier placement.”

ATK made the transition work, with over 100 temporary audio-team workers helping to make the system transition precise. The sound system also allowed fans to tune into one of any dozen podiums within the stadium simultaneously, which could be pumped into the PA, giving the fans one more way to engage with their favored team.  

Future Chip Innovation will Elevate the Super Bowl

As technology evolves, the role of electronics in events like the Super Bowl will only become more advanced. With the growing popularity of artificial intelligence (AI), we could see more integration of AI applications for real-time analytics. Likewise, improvements in augmented reality experiences could give fans a better or alternative view of plays with hypothetical animations.  

Additionally, advancements in green technology may lead to more sustainable practices, as was seen in 2024 when the upgraded LED lighting systems helped reduce the environmental impact the game may typically have on the surrounding city.  

Today, the Super Bowl is more than just a football game—it’s a high-tech spectacle fueled by various electronic components. From broadcasting to lighting, sound systems to fan engagement, electronics are integral to every aspect of the event in the modern age. These technologies ensure that the Super Bowl is a memorable experience for millions of fans worldwide and provide a fantastic example of how innovation in the electronic components industry can have a far-reaching impact in areas that couldn’t be more different.  

We here at Sourceability are ready to kick back and enjoy the game this weekend after getting you the parts you need for your Super Bowl event.