When the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams kick off in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday, they will do so in one of the most secure environments on Earth. Here’s what protecting this year’s marquee event at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium entails.

First off, there is advance preparation that begins at the moment a host city is chosen. This work focuses on route security, provision for the tourists who will visit the city, crisis response infrastructure (hospitals, etc.), and contingencies for the staging of a mass deployment of state and federal resources. Much of this work was completed months ago. When it comes to leadership of Super Bowl security, the Department of Homeland Security is the lead federal department, with its subordinate agency, the Secret Service, playing a pivotal role. That authority would shift to the FBI if a terrorist attack were to occur. Regardless, the FBI brings boutique capabilities to bear alongside the Atlanta Police Department. But that’s just the people side of things.