Security A Top Concern At This Year's "Mass Transit Super Bowl"

By Matt Rivers

East Rutherford, N.J., (CBS) -- The Super Bowl is fast approaching.

It will be played February 2nd at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey -- and security is a big concern.

CBS 3's Matt Rivers has more on some of the preparations law enforcement is taking before the teams take the field.

"We'll probably have over 4,000 total personnel dedicated to security preparations," Jeff Miller, NFL Chief Security Officer said.

As Super Bowl XLVII descends on the Greater New York City area, so too comes the real threat that something could go wrong.

"Active shooter, bomb threats, and hazards relating to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats," Aaron Ford, FBI Newark Special Agent-In-Charge said.

And the list goes on from there.  That said though, law enforcement officials expressed strong confidence Wednesday that they're ready for whatever comes.

"We're pretty good at what we do here and we have a wealth of experience of pulling off large events," Lt. Col. Edward Cetnar of New Jersey State Police said.

"We're dealing with these kind of crowds everyday and for all these special events," Michael Fedorko of Port Authority Police said.

But this event certainly isn't normal.  So the New Jersey State Police along with dozens of other agencies say they've been planning for everything that could possibly happen -- from a terrorist attack to a snowstorm to traffic.

Over 80,000 people will pack these empty seats come game day and getting them all here is proving to be quite the challenge.  Parking is extremely limited outside MetLife Stadium and for that reason organizers are calling this event the first-ever "mass transit Super Bowl." A general rule?

"If it won't be allowed in the stadium on Super Bowl Sunday, it's not going to be allowed on the train," Chief Christopher Trucillo of New Jersey Transit Police said.

New Jersey State Police is the lead agency here, but organizers say more than 100 others are involved in securing multiple sectors.

And speaking of the stadium, it will essentially be a fortress.  Fences and metal detectors and 500 state troopers will be guarding the 750-acre complex, all for one goal.

"No one attending this great American event should have to worry about anything other than whether or not their favorite team will win," Ford said.

One thing New Jerseyans could have to worry about is footing the bill for all this extra security.  Officials wouldn't give specific numbers, but say they're doing what they can to keep costs down, taking cues from other cities who've done this before.

"We've looked very closely at those Super Bowls, for selfish reasons we've stolen absolutely everything that has gone right," Col. Rick Fuentes, New Jersey State Police Superintendent said.

But in the end, safety will trump cost -- unrivaled security for an unrivaled game.