Home field advantage is always a key benefit for every team in the NFL.
That is why the Super Bowl is played at a neutral stadium. One team shouldn't get that edge automatically. However, the edge might be in play for the San Francisco 49ers when they face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
The game is going to be played in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. It is practically a stone's throw away from the San Francisco Bay Area flight wise. Proximity favors the 49ers here, which presents an opportunity for the 49ers to have more fans and give them home field advantage in the Super Bowl. Then again, it is Las Vegas and Chiefs fans tend to travel well with their team. So, who will have more fans attending the Super Bowl?
I have to give the edge to the Chiefs here based primarily on how the last Super Bowl matchup was for these teams. In Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, the Chiefs' fans easily took over that stadium. I was in attendance for the game in the auxiliary press box, which is basically in the upper deck stands. There was a stark difference when the 49ers came out of the tunnel to open the game compared to the Chiefs.
Here is how it sounded when the 49ers marched out.
Here is how it sounded when the Chiefs marched out.
When the 49ers came out of the tunnels, there was a nice and moderate cheer. But when the Chiefs came out, there was an intense roar. The chants from fans for the Chiefs easily shook the stadium. It was insanely vibrant and almost intimidating from where I sat. By my estimation from the looks and sounds especially, I had it 80-20 in favor of Chiefs' fans in attendance. That was a home game for the Chiefs.
Now, perhaps that is because they were all synchronized with their chants, but it is undeniable the difference in how loud the Chiefs' fans were for their team as opposed to the 49ers. Maybe that changes in Las Vegas. Miami is closer to Kansas City than San Francisco, but I don't believe proximity is a hindrance for Chiefs' fans. I expect them to give the Chiefs home field advantage in this game like they did in Miami four years ago.
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