Security Is Tighter Than Ever but Appears to Go Smoothly

The extraordinary security measures in place for Sunday’s Super Bowl seemingly left nothing to chance, as about 5,000 law enforcement officials, some carrying M-16 rifles, patrolled the interior and perimeter of the Superdome.

Fans, media, pregame and halftime performers, and even the players and coaches for the New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams were required to go through at least three security checkpoints.

Those were the visible signs of security for the first sporting event to be classified as a National Special Security Event.

Behind the scenes, it was unclear whether the NFL again used technology that scanned the crowd to try to identify possible fugitives or known felons. The league was criticized for using the technology last year in Tampa, Fla., and a league spokesman was vague on the topic Sunday.

“We are using the most sophisticated technology available to monitor the game, but beyond that, we’re not going to comment,” the spokesman said.

The security effort resulted in long lines to enter the Superdome, but spectators seemed prepared. More than an hour before kickoff, league officials announced, 95% of the crowd had cleared the extensive security checkpoints.

St. Louis Ram guard Adam Timmerman said, “It was probably the safest place on earth today.

“They told us what we could and couldn’t bring, just like the fans. I thought it was handled really professionally. And, really for the most part, we didn’t see a lot of extra things going on.”

Ticket holders were advised to arrive at least four hours early, and many showed up even earlier, which helped them negotiate a venue encircled by concrete barriers, and crawling with FBI and Secret Service agents, the National Guard, and local and state police.

Beverage coolers, foam fingers and other staples of pre-Sept. 11 games were confiscated at the gates.

There was a no-fly zone in effect over the stadium, and truck traffic was banned on Interstate 10, which runs past the Superdome.

The Hyatt hotel, the league headquarters for Super Bowl week, closed its front entrance for 24 hours, beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday. Guests had to show room keys to use the elevators, and armed guards patrolled most floors.

“We will always be alert to the possibility of a terrorist event at a high-profile event like the Super Bowl, like the Olympics,” Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Even more stringent measures are in place for the Olympics, which begin this week in Utah. Still, the Super Bowl was much more than a dress rehearsal. The event was watched on American television by 130 million last year. The game was attended by 70,000 at the Superdome.

Milt Aldrich, who oversees security for the NFL, said, “It went very much according to plan. No surprises. It was just as we hoped it would be. We had a great game. We had an opportunity to focus on the halftime, the pregame and a terrific football game, and not have to worry about security. That’s what we wanted to do.”

Aldrich said there were no major incidents. “None,” he said. “Minor, minor things, but nothing of a serious nature. Very routine. Bumps and bruises.”

The Washington Post and Associated Press contributed to this report.