The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be supporting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enforce temporary flight restrictions around Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta during Super Bowl Sunday.
The restrictions will be in effect from 3 p.m. to midnight on Sunday, Feb. 3, within a 30-mile radius around the stadium.
Only authorized aircraft on an active flight plan and in contact with Air Traffic Control will be able to enter. Authorized aircraft include medevac, law enforcement, and military aircraft.
A smaller zone within a 10-mile radius of the stadium will only permit authorized aircraft with prior approval to enter.
Operators of unmanned aircraft, including drones, will need prior FAA authorization to operate.
On Sunday, Department of Defense aircraft and CBP Black Hawk crews will detect, track and intercept any aircraft violating the restricted zone.
Should an aircraft violate the zone, CBP will determine if further enforcement is needed.
During the Super Bowl, more than 1,500 public safety personnel will be on duty including every Atlanta police officer.
Security costs are paid by the city, not the National Football League.
Minneapolis paid $5 million in cover security costs plus more than $1 million to reimburse the Minnesota National Guard for last year’s Super Bowl.