Security is being beefed up to the highest level for Super Bowl XLI, being held this Sunday in Miami, Fla. National Football League officials have said there is no specific threat against the event, but that the “high profile” of the event makes it “attractive to terrorists,” said Milt Ahlerich, NFL vice president of security.

Ahlerich said that the NFL had budgeted $6 million for security for the Super Bowl and was spending the money on security equipment, screening, and surveillance as well as 3,000 security workers.

But he said that fans attending the Super Bowl shouldn’t worry about security while they stand in long lines waiting to go through the metal detectors. “We want the focus to be on the teams on field and not on security.”

A command center away from the stadium will coordinate Super Bowl security with local police from all over Florida, state police, federal agencies and the military also helping provide security at the event. Law enforcement officials would not say how many police would be present, but said it would be more than enough to handle anything thinkable.

“We have envisioned every possibility imagined as far as potential threats,” Miami-Dade Police Department director Robert Parker said.

The trick for planners is to keep the game an enjoyable sporting event while still projecting a secure atmosphere. That means fans will see a significant police presence, but much more will be going on behind the scenes.

“What you want to do is give the appearance of preparedness and security, and give the fans a safe environment, but you don’t want to look oppressive,” said Maj. Lou Battle, Super Bowl coordinator for the Miami-Dade Police Department. “You’re not going to feel like you’re in an armed camp.” — Associated Press

Everything they can envision, they’ve planned for. Military fighter jets and helicopters stand by to intercept any aircraft that stray within ten miles of the airport. Bomb-sniffing dogs will point their noses at virtually everything coming in to the stadium. Everyone will get screened, and the lucky ones will get to their seats by the end of the first quarter.

Best of all: “Every square foot of the Super Bowl venue is under surveillance of some sort,” said Miami-Dade Police Maj. Lou Battle. No word, though, on whether they’ll be using computers to match people’s faces with mugshots as they enter the stadium.

To add insult to injury, tailgating and camping in the parking lot are banned. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the best part of the whole game.

Let’s hope first that there aren’t any terrorist attacks, but if there are, that the terrorists leave their creativity at home and follow law enforcement’s playbook.