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A small group of blind and low-vision fans will experience the Super Bowl with a Super Bowl tactile device that renders the ball’s location through touch. The tablet also delivers vibration cues for key moments, so big plays don’t blur into crowd noise.
The NFL is teaming up with OneCourt and Ticketmaster to bring the setup to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, when Seattle plays New England on Feb. 8. Around 10 attendees are expected to use the device in their seats, with a live Westwood One broadcast feed running through headphones.
Timing is the difference. If you’ve ever followed a game by audio with a delay, you know how quickly the moment can slip away.
The field comes alive under your hands
The OneCourt unit is about the size of a thick iPad, with raised lines outlining a football field. With both hands on the surface, fans can feel the ball move upfield, drift toward the sideline, or swing back the other way.
Vibration patterns add another layer. Different pulses signal different events, so the device can call attention to a change before someone nearby has to explain it.
The NFL has already run the experience 15 times during the regular season at games hosted by the Seahawks, Jaguars, 49ers, Falcons, and Vikings. Bringing it to the Super Bowl is the loudest test yet.
Touch alone doesn’t solve everything. The tablet is paired with live audio so what you feel lines up with what you hear, instead of arriving late through a stream or a delayed broadcast.
Where this goes after the Super Bowl
OneCourt is already working beyond football. It has partnered with NBA and Major League Baseball teams to offer devices at games, and it’s in talks to bring the approach to the NHL and other leagues.
The Super Bowl rollout is still limited, and details like how fans request a unit or how widely it scales aren’t spelled out here. The next thing to watch is whether it shows up at more stadiums next season, with access that feels as routine as any other accommodation.
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