Behind the Super Bowl halftime show and everything that might go wrong

Behind the Scenes of the Super Bowl Halftime Show

This Sunday, Bad Bunny will light up the LX Super Bowl halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It’s been quite the journey leading up to this moment—a full year of planning, actually.

For just 15 minutes of performance, the logistics are vast. Reports suggest it costs around $1 million per minute. Imagine the level of coordination and the sheer number of people involved—it’s impressive, really.

John Barker, who oversees global event operations and production, described the challenge: “You’re creating a moment of global entertainment on live television in a stadium that should be ready for football again in minutes. It’s very complicated.” One misstep could turn this high-profile event into something quite different and not in a good way.

“It takes extraordinary coordination to execute a live performance of this size and scale during such an important day,” Barker explained. He mentioned a critical moment they call “go/no-go,” where everything must be perfectly aligned. Once they make that call, there’s no turning back. It’s a bit thrilling, but also nerve-wracking.

Somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 individuals will be part of the spectacle, including hundreds on the field aiding with choreographed dances and backing vocals.

Patrick Baltzell, a six-time Emmy Award winner and lead sound engineer for 19 Super Bowls, pointed out that many issues can arise. With crowded radio frequencies and concert-grade audio systems needing quick setup, plus stadiums typically not made for live music, it’s challenging. “This is the biggest and most complex show ever,” he noted.

Typically, they take only seven minutes to configure the stage, sound, and lighting. And here’s the kicker: all this happens without messing up the field in the second half of the game. Talk about pressure!

Most artists perform to pre-recorded tracks, which is a safe way to go. However, some insist on live music, and that can be a gamble, especially if they’re not used to the stadium space. Baltzell recalls the issues during Super Bowl XXXVIII when the sound was horribly reverberant, leading to what he thought was a “terrible” performance.

He was convinced his career was over after that debacle, but surprisingly, the post-show chatter revolved not around the sound but Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction,” a moment that ironically saved him from critics.

The concept of the halftime show wasn’t always this big. Back in 1967, it primarily featured college marching bands. But things changed dramatically in 1993 when Michael Jackson performed at the Rose Bowl. His electrifying performance was a game-changer and set a new standard for halftime shows.

“Once that happened, it was clear that halftime was more than just a break—it became an event in its own right,” Barker said.

Baltzell emphasized that the real test is whether the artist feels satisfied. “As long as I don’t get called backstage, I’m good,” he joked. Being in the background is sometimes a blessing. He mentioned the challenges from Beyoncé’s show years ago, which nearly faced catastrophe due to a power outage just before she went on stage. Fortunately, that was avoided, but it sure created some tense moments.

After the performance wraps up, there’s more work to do. The field has to be returned to game-ready condition quickly, which involves a lot of heavy lifting and caution to avoid damaging the turf. It’s crucial to leave no screws behind and to ensure everything is restored to its original state.