Spectacular pyro adds to the excitement of the Super Bowl Halftime Show and this year’s fireworks by Pyrotecnico did not disappoint when The Bucs beat The Chiefs on February 7, 2021 in Tampa. Working in tandem with production designer Bruce Rogers of Tribe, executive producer Jesse Collins, creative director for The Weeknd La Mar Taylor, and creative director Es Devlin from the massive team involved in producing the show, Bob Ross, chief operations officer at Pyrotecnico notes, “This is our second Super Bowl Halftime Show, the first was Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, TX,” while it represents his personal third experience with the Super Bowl.
Once the pyro designers, Rocco Vitale & Ron Bleggi, received the music track, they used Finale 3D to previs entire show, and utilized low smoke pyrotechnics in the design process. “When working with Es, we were asked to put a design together to bring a high-energy moment working in monochromatic colors,” explains Ross. “We were tasked to create geometric shapes and large visual transitions.”
With approximately 6,200 pieces of pyro used in the show, the manufacturers include Next FX, Ricasa, Ultratec, & Santore & Sons, using the Pyrodigital FCA firing system. “We developed a new custom CO2 Effect with our R&D team to create a billowing effect that could be utilized in close working areas with the dancers and performers,” adds Ross, pointing out that ground fog throughout the set was provided by 102’ of custom haze bars and 14 MDG theOne stadium hazers.
The pyro was placed at the north and south scoreboards, as well as at northeast and northwest LED boards, southeast and southwest LED Boards, and on top of the video wall on stage. The installation of the pyro began in January 25, with two pre-show rehearsals of the pyro placed at the onstage video wall, and there were roof pyrotechnics as well.
In terms of Covid-19-specific restrictions, the pyro team was able to maintain safe working distances, and followed the outlined protocols created by Diversified Production Services & the NFL. “They brought their A-game to keep us all safe,” says Ross. In terms of the Halftime Show itself, with its new configuration informed by the pandemic, Ross concludes: “I do not believe the fixed stage made anything easier or harder as this is what we have been doing for over 20 years. This did allow us to bring different elements of creativity.”
Pyrotecnico FX Crew Credits
- Bob Ross, Site Director
- Rocco Vitale, FX Creative Director
- Doug Aller, Crew Chief
- Dani Sawtell, Production Manager
- Paul Gaffney, Safety Director
- Ron Bleggi, Head Designer
- Jason Farrell, Show Operator
- Alex Smith, RJ Pacella, Jesse Parker, Stage Team
- Ryan Merfy, Marc Domings, Lead Riggers
- Seth Stiles, Head of R&D “Solution Provider”
- Pyrotechnic Roof Crew: Jack Kingry, Matt McCoy, Bernard Walker II, Phil Stewart, Tony Amato,, Chris Liberatore, Mark Jones, Rey Mangubat, Aaron Troutman, Bob Mays, Dave Yarbrough
Check out Live Design's ongoing Super Bowl LV Halftime Show 2021 coverage here.