KAREN KORNACKI TALKED TO GEORGE TODAY AND HE GAVE US A SNEAK PEEK OF RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM. KAREN: THE FIELD IN TAMPA BAY IS READY FOR A SUPER BOWL, JUST AS YOU WOULD EXPECT WITH GEORGE TOMA THERE. >> WE STRIPPED THE FIELD FROM THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AND THEN WE LASER GRADE IT AND THEN WE STARTED SOD ON WEDNESDAY.KARE : FROM ANOTHER STATE. WHEN YOU HAVE A SUPER BOWL ON NATURAL GRASS, YOU HAVE TO STA THE SOD 18 MONTHS AHEAD OF THE GAME. SO THIS HAD TO BE GROWN ON THE FARM IN GEORGIA FOR 18 MONTH KAREN: THE NFL LOGO IS PAINTED IN THE CENTER OF THE FIELD AND GEORGE IS PAINTING THE CHIEFS LOGO TODAY >> WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TH CHIEFS END ZONE TEMPLATE FROM LAST YEAR AND WE JUST HAVE TO START WITH THE RED PAINT SO WE START PUTTING THE CHIEFS IN FIRST. KAREN: GEORGE HAS WORKED EVERY SUPER BOWL FROM THE START, AND THE NFL WOULDN’T HAVE ANYONE ELSE. >> KEY AND THE POPE ARE ON THE SAME SPEAKING SCALE. HE IS WALKING HISTORY BOO KAREN GEORGE IS EXCITED TO : PREPARE THE FELD FOR ANOTHER SUPER BOWL, BUT HE IS MOST EXCITED TO LAY OUT THE
Groundskeeper George Toma, 91, preps field for Super Bowl LV
Updated: 7:05 AM EST Jan 27, 2021
Groundskeeper George Toma, 91, has prepared the fields for every Super Bowl played. He recently gave sister station KMBC a sneak peek of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Toma was part of this year's preparation, from stripping the previous field, laser grading and bringing in new sod."When you have a Super Bowl on natural grass, you have to start a sod 18 months ahead of the game," he explained. "So this sod has been growing on the farm in Georgia for 18 months."Next up: painting the end zone logos for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ed Mangan, NFL Field Director, described the respect Toma has earned through his experience."He's the guy who was at Super Bowl I. None of us were," he said. "He is just a walking history book."
Groundskeeper George Toma, 91, has prepared the fields for every Super Bowl played.
He recently gave sister station KMBC a sneak peek of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Toma was part of this year's preparation, from stripping the previous field, laser grading and bringing in new sod.
"When you have a Super Bowl on natural grass, you have to start a sod 18 months ahead of the game," he explained. "So this sod has been growing on the farm in Georgia for 18 months."
Next up: painting the end zone logos for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ed Mangan, NFL Field Director, described the respect Toma has earned through his experience.
"He's the guy who was at Super Bowl I. None of us were," he said. "He is just a walking history book."
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