Super Bowl 60: Patriots, Seahawks Settle In-But Steer Clear of 49ers' Practice Facility Amid Injury Conspiracy Buzz
As Super Bowl 60 draws near, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are officially on the ground in Santa Clara, ready to gear up for the biggest game of the year. Kickoff is set for Sunday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m.
ET at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. But while the stadium will host the action, the teams are opting for different practice digs in the lead-up to the big game-and it’s not just about logistics.
Historically, Super Bowl participants often use the host team’s facilities for practice during game week. But this year, neither the Patriots nor the Seahawks will be touching the 49ers’ practice field.
Instead, both squads are heading to nearby college campuses: New England will train at Stanford’s football facilities in Palo Alto, while Seattle will get their reps in at San Jose State. Both locations are within a short drive of Levi’s Stadium and offer the kind of privacy and control teams crave during Super Bowl prep.
Interestingly, these are the same facilities used the last time the Super Bowl came to Santa Clara back in 2016, when the Broncos and Panthers squared off. So there’s a precedent here-but this time around, there’s also a bit of buzz swirling around why the 49ers’ own facility isn’t being used.
The Substation Conspiracy: What’s the Deal?
A theory that’s been gaining traction online centers around the 49ers’ practice field and its proximity to a large electrical substation. The claim? That electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from the substation are somehow contributing to San Francisco’s recent spate of injuries-an issue that’s plagued the team over the past couple of seasons.
The list of injuries is no joke. George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles.
Nick Bosa and Fred Warner both went down with season-ending injuries. Brock Purdy missed extended time.
Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The sheer volume of soft-tissue and ligament-related injuries has raised eyebrows-and, for some, questions about whether something environmental might be at play.
Online theories point to low-frequency EMFs as a possible culprit, citing research that suggests prolonged exposure could degrade collagen and weaken tendons. One viral post even described the 49ers’ practice field as a “real-world case study” in electromagnetic exposure.
But here’s the thing-experts aren’t buying it.
Science Says: Not So Fast
Medical and scientific professionals have weighed in, and the consensus is pretty clear: there’s no solid evidence linking EMFs from substations to increased injury risk in athletes.
Frank de Vocht, a professor at Bristol Medical School, called the theory “nonsense.” Jerrold Bushberg, a UC Davis radiology professor, said there’s “no firmly established evidence” that EMFs can cause soft-tissue damage. And Frank Barnes, a University of Colorado professor who leads research on EMFs and biological systems, acknowledged that while studies in this area have slowed, the theory remains “unlikely.”
Still, the whispers have made their way into the 49ers’ own building. General manager John Lynch confirmed the team is at least exploring the claims-if only out of an abundance of caution.
“Because it deals with allegedly the health and safety of our players, I think you have to look into everything,” Lynch told reporters. “We’ve been reaching out to anyone and everyone to see, does a study exist other than a guy sticking an apparatus underneath the fence and coming up with a number that I have no idea what that means?
That’s what we know exists. We’ve heard that debunked.”
Business as Usual for the Super Bowl
The good news for the Patriots and Seahawks? None of this is likely to affect their Super Bowl prep. By choosing to practice at Stanford and San Jose State, both teams are steering clear of the noise-literally and figuratively.
For now, the focus shifts to game planning, walkthroughs, and media obligations as both franchises look to cap their seasons with a Lombardi Trophy. And while the 49ers’ practice field might be the subject of online speculation, it won’t be part of the championship equation this week.
Super Bowl 60 is all set. The teams are in town.
The stage is ready. And with the Patriots and Seahawks locked in on the task at hand, all that’s left is to play the game.