 (John Frankenheimer (qv)) was able to secure permission from  Goodyear to use their blimp in the film because of his relationship  with the companys public relations department from making "Grand  Prix". He had to promise them that the blimp itself would not kill  anybody, for example that nobody would be torn up in its propellers.  In addition, the pilot was changed from a Goodyear employee to a  freelance pilot only hired by Goodyear. Miami Dolphins owner Joe  Robbie got the NFL to allow extensive filming at a real Super Bowl  and the use of copyrighted team names and logos. Additional footage  of the stampede at the game was shot at the Orange Bowl after the  game with thousands of extras provided for free by The United Way.  In exchange for providing the extras, Frankenheimer agreed to direct  a short film for them with star Robert Shaw narrating it.