Next Sunday, the city of Houston hosts the biggest event in the National Football League (NFL) calendar. The 51st annual Super Bowl will be held on February 5 at NRG Stadium, home ground of the Houston Texans. The American Football Conference champions (New England Patriots) will face off against the winners of the National Football Conference (Atlanta Falcons).
This will be the third time the event has been held in Houston, following on from Super Bowl VIII (1974) and Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004). Super Bowl LI is the Patriots’ ninth appearance in the final, the most of any team. It is also their second appearance in three years, and seventh under the leadership of coach Bill Belichick and star quarterback Tom Brady. The Falcons are making their second appearance and aiming to win their first ever Super Bowl, having been defeated in 1999 by the Denver Broncos.
In accordance with the annual rotation between AFC and NFC teams, the Falcons are the designated home team and have chosen to wear their red home jerseys. The Patriots will wear their white road jerseys. The Patriots go into the game as favorites and are hoping to repeat their 2015 success, when they beat the Seattle Seahawks to claim their fourth Super Bowl title.
More Than Just a Game
In addition to the main event, the Super Bowl is famous around the world for its halftime show. Previous years have seen some of the biggest stars from the entertainment world wow the crowd, including Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones. This year’s show will be headlined by Lady Gaga, who promises to bring her unique style to the stage. Outside the stadium, a fan festival called Super Bowl LIVE will run from January 28 until February 5, in downtown Houston’s Discovery Green. This free event offers food and entertainment, allowing those without a ticket for the game to experience the excitement of Super Bowl LI. Over a million people are expected to arrive in the city to soak up the atmosphere of America’s greatest sporting event.
Flying into Houston
The primary international airport serving Houston is George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH). The airport is located around 40km north of NRG Stadium. KIAH offers 24/7 Airport of Entry (AoE), although please note that customs and immigration is closed between midnight and 05:00 local time. PPR is mandatory, and landing permits are required for both non-revenue private and non-scheduled commercial flights. No special requirements are in place during the event period, however due to the high volume of flights expected it is recommended to arrange all permits at the earliest opportunity. KIAH is fully equipped for ground handling services, and has passenger and crew lounges available. Slot bookings will be required, and advance booking is also needed for aircraft parking. Long-term parking is possible, subject to availability. A non-refundable special event fee is in place during the Super Bowl, which is determined according to aircraft size and will be payable upon booking.
The other preferred option for traveling to the Super Bowl is William P. Hobby Airport (IATA: HOU, ICAO: KHOU). Located just 18km west of the stadium, KHOU is an AoE and has customs and immigration available 24 hours. Slot bookings will be required from February 2 until February 6. Due to the high volume of traffic over this period, no amendments will be permitted after your slot has been allocated. The airport is fully equipped for ground handling. Advance payment is required for aircraft parking, and this will be on a non-refundable basis. A special helicopter shuttle service can be arranged directly to NRG Stadium. Please note that advance booking is recommended, as spaces are limited.
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