KarunaNews Story

Some blind and low-vision fans will have unprecedented access to the Super Bowl thanks to a tactile device that tracks the ball, vibrates on key plays and provides real-time audio. The NFL teamed up with OneCourt and Ticketmaster to pilot the game-enhancing experience 15 times during the regular-season. About 10 blind and low-vision fans will have an opportunity to use the same technology at the 2026 Super Bowl. With hands on the device, they will feel the location of the ball and hear what's happening throughout the game. Scott Thornhill, executive director of the American Council of the Blind, will be among the fans at Levi’s Stadium with a OneCourt tablet in their lap and Westwood One's broadcast piped into headphones. He was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa when he was 8, and later lost his sight. “It will allow me to engage and enjoy the game as close as possible as people who can see,” Thornhill said. “As someone who grew up playing sports before I lost my vision, I'm getting a big part of my life back that I've been missing. To attend a game and not have to wait for someone to tell me what happened, it's hard to even describe how much that means to me. “It's a game-changer.”