Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show: Behind the Scenes of the ‘Benito Bowl’

The Super Bowl LX halftime show starring Bad Bunny faced an unexpected hurdle when the NFL capped equipment carts at 25 on Levi’s Stadium’s grass field, forcing the production team to rethink how to realize their ambitious visual concepts.

Production Challenges and Creative Solutions

To recreate the “pastizales” – grassy fields that echo Puerto Rico’s landscape – designers Bruce and Shelly Rodgers enlisted roughly 380 volunteers dressed as grass. Creative director Harriet Cuddeford said the “plant people” synchronized with over 330 other performers, creating a massive, audacious staging.

Director Hamish Hamilton, a veteran of major live events, called it “the biggest team effort of a show I have ever been involved in.”

Did You Know? The NFL’s restriction to just 25 equipment carts on the all‑grass field required the entire visual concept of the grass fields to be reimagined using live participants.

Stunts, Guest Appearances, and Live Moments

Bad Bunny performed daring feats, including scaling a tall utility pole without a harness – a decision that prompted Hamilton to mount a camera on the pole for a unique viewpoint. He also descended through a trap‑door roof of a pink “casita,” timed perfectly with a pre‑taped TV scene showing a family watching the live broadcast.

A spontaneous wedding was woven into the show after an Ontario couple sent the artist a casual invitation. The couple married onstage, with Lady Gaga serving as the wedding singer and Bad Bunny’s “Baile Inolvidable” as their first dance.

Guest performers included Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin – who sang “Lo Que Le Paso a Hawaii” – and local business owners such as Villa’s Tacos, a real piragua vendor, and a Brooklyn bar owner, Toñita, who shared a shot with Bad Bunny onstage.

Technical Execution and Camera Work

Camera crews navigated tight timing, with a crane briefly losing digital connection before locking into place just in time for a key shot. Low‑angle cameras experienced wobble when a handheld operator collided with a dolly, illustrating the precarious nature of live‑TV filming.

Hamilton explained that the production switched to digital cinema cameras, likening the technology to “Ferrari‑esque” equipment used in a setting more suited to “Land Rover” gear. This shift delivers a cinematic look distinct from traditional sports cameras, though it demands a complex workflow.

Expert Insight: The show’s blend of community representation and high‑risk technical choreography underscores a growing trend: halftime productions are becoming platforms for cultural storytelling while pushing the limits of live broadcast technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people were used to portray the grass fields?

Approximately 380 volunteers were recruited to dress as grass, supplementing over 330 additional cast performers.

Which guest artists appeared during the halftime show?

The performance featured Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and several real‑life business owners and cultural figures, including Villa’s Tacos founder Victor Villa and Brooklyn bar owner Toñita.

How was the spontaneous wedding incorporated into the show?

The Ontario couple received a Zoom invitation from Bad Bunny’s team, leading them to marry onstage during the halftime performance, with Lady Gaga acting as the wedding singer.

How do you feel about the balance of cultural celebration and technical daring showcased in this halftime show?