We can start by using the formula for the circumference of a circle to find the radius of the circle that the ride goes around:
C = 2πr
where C is the circumference and r is the radius.
Plugging in the given circumference, we get:
496.12 = 2πr
Solving for r, we get:
r = 496.12 / (2π) ≈ 78.97 yards
Now, we can use the formula for the surface area of a sphere:
A = 4πr^2
where A is the surface area and r is the radius.
Plugging in the value of r that we found, we get:
A = 4π(78.97)^2 ≈ 78,460.92 square yards
Therefore, the surface area of the sphere is approximately 78,460.92 square yards.