HOUSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (USAO-SDTX) has completed a review of the accessibility of NRG Stadium to disabled fans planning to attend Super Bowl LI, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. The review finds the NFL’s plans for accessible seating, parking and related services at the stadium to be in line with its obligations under the Title III of the American's with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by private places of public accommodations.
The review stemmed from a pre-existing investigation that is unrelated to the NFL or its use of NRG Stadium for Super Bowl LI. The NFL cooperated with the review and demonstrated that its plans for Super Bowl LI provide for accessible seating and parking in numbers that substantially exceed those required under the ADA. Among other things, the NFL for the provision of handicap accessible parking plans to provide accessible seating on all levels of the stadium and will maintain a dedicated parking lot. That lot - Blue Lot 22 - is located just to the south of the stadium’s usual handicap accessible lot and immediately outside of the stadium’s security perimeter.
The NFL also plans to have sufficient personnel on hand to accommodate the needs of disabled attendees of Super Bowl LI. Members of the NFL’s Mobility Assistance Team will be stationed in areas inside and outside of the stadium’s secured perimeter in order to provide assistance to disabled fans seeking to enter the stadium and get to their seats from the designated handicap accessible lot, Taxi/UBER drop-off area and METRORail train stop.
Once inside the stadium, disabled attendees will be advised of guest services locations where they may store mobility assistance equipment. Disabled attendees may also schedule a pick-up with the Mobility Assistance Team, which will help them travel from their seats back to their vehicles when they leave the game. Moreover, there will be guest services staff available inside and outside the stadium to assist fans during the game if a need arises.
For specific questions relating to ADA accommodations at Super Bowl LI, please call the NFL’s Mobility Hotline at 888-411-1167 or email. For information regarding the availability of handicap accessible parking at Super Bowl LI, the location of ADA accessible parking and parking permits and pricing, fans are directed to the Super Bowl Transportation website.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Karpati and Keith Wyatt are handling the matter. The USAO-SDTX will continue to vigorously enforce the ADA. Individuals interested in finding out more about the ADA can contact the USAO-SDTX at (713) 567-9140 or via email.
Additional information can be found at USAO-SDTX Civil - Civil Rights Division District of Texas.