President Biden said that “God willing,” there will be a full stadium for the next Super Bowl – and that federal guidelines for reopening schools in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic could be revealed on Wednesday.
During an interview excerpt on Sunday during CBS’s pre-game show for Super Bowl LV, Biden said it was his “hope and expectation” that fans would fill the stands next year.
“God willing, we can celebrate as usual in a year,” he said.
The NFL said only 25,000 people will watch Sunday’s championship in person at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida – along with 30,000 fan cuts.
Biden said he told his coronavirus “team” about Thursday’s offer by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to use all 32 professional football stadiums as mass vaccination sites, but did not say which – if any – would be turned on.
Asked about the CBS Evening News investigation, Norah O’Donnell said about the impact of school closures on the nation’s children, Biden said: “I think it’s time for schools to open safely.”
The president mentioned concerns that include “ventilation systems” in classrooms, but said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, would release safety guidelines “even on Wednesday.”
Regarding the big game between reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Biden said Bucs’ Tom Brady – a six-time Super Bowl winner – was “obviously … a great defender.”
But he also said that the boss’s defender, Patrick Mahomes, “seems to have a lot of potential”.
Asked if that meant he thought Kansas City would win, Biden said, “I didn’t say that.”
“I think they’re both great defenders.”
The 4-1 / 2-minute snippet of the interview – the first Biden to give a TV anchor – was among several that CBS aired on Friday night.
Another will air Monday on CBS Evening News, O’Donnell said.