When fans think about the Super Bowl, they think about the spectacle—the precision of the plays, the roar of the crowd, the halftime show, the moments that become instant history. What they don’t think about is what makes all of that possible in real time, at global scale, without interruption.
And that’s exactly the point.
When Super Bowl LX takes place at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, the expectation will be seamlessness. Tens of thousands of fans in the stadium and hundreds of millions more around the world will share the same moments—simultaneously, securely, and without friction. That level of performance doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because data is treated not as an afterthought, but as mission-critical infrastructure.
A Season That Spans the Globe, Connected by Data
The NFL season doesn’t unfold in one place. It travels—from global games across continents to primetime matchups watched in nearly every corner of the world. Fans engage through broadcasts, mobile apps, social platforms, fantasy leagues, and in-stadium experiences, all expecting the same immediacy and quality wherever they are.
What connects that entire season—from the first kickoff overseas to the final whistle at Super Bowl LX—is data.
I often think of data as the league’s unseen constant: always present, always collecting, always connecting. Every play is captured from multiple angles. Every stat is recorded. Every cheer, replay, transaction, and stream becomes part of the NFL’s collective memory. That data allows fans to relive moments instantly, analysts to generate insights in real time, and the league to deliver a consistent experience at massive scale.
From Stadium Energy to Global Screens
Super Bowl LX represents the most intense convergence of physical and digital experiences in sports. Inside Levi’s Stadium, data will quietly support everything fans take for granted—real-time replays, mobile engagement, in-seat services, secure access, and smooth stadium operations. Outside the stadium, that same data will travel instantly to screens around the world, ensuring fans everywhere feel part of the same moment.
This is not a small technical challenge.
At NetApp, our role in supporting the NFL ecosystem is grounded in one principle: data must move quickly, be protected everywhere, and remain available no matter the demand. When that foundation is in place, the experience can scale without breaking.
Built for Intelligence, Designed for Trust
Much of what defines the modern Super Bowl—from personalized content to advanced analytics—relies on AI. But AI doesn’t operate on its own. It depends on high-quality data, accessible across hybrid environments, and safeguarded against disruption.
That’s why intelligent data infrastructure matters. When data is managed consistently across on-premises and cloud environments, organizations can innovate with confidence. Cyber resilience ensures that systems stay protected without slowing down the experience. Cloud flexibility ensures data is available where it’s needed, when it’s needed.
These capabilities aren’t options for any organization or event. For an event like Super Bowl LX, they’re imperative.
When Technology Gets Out of the Way
No fan will arrive at Levi’s Stadium thinking about storage architectures or data pipelines. No one watching from across the globe will pause to consider infrastructure design.
They’ll think about the game.
That’s the real measure of success. When technology fades into the background and the experience feels effortless, the infrastructure has done its job. It has turned extraordinary complexity into something simple and human.
Beyond the Big Game
The Super Bowl is a powerful illustration of what modern experiences demand everywhere. Always-on availability. Global reach. Trust in data. And the ability to scale instantly without compromise.
When data has a safe home and an intelligent foundation, moments connect. Communities form. And experiences feel shared, no matter where you are.
No matter which team wins the game on the field, Super Bowl LX will serve as an example of how organizations across industries—from entertainment to healthcare to finance—must think about data as the foundation of experience.
That’s what the Super Bowl makes visible—by keeping the infrastructure invisible.
