The second Sunday of February is famously celebrated all around the United States. Millions tune in from home televisions, surrounded by friends and family, while others save up thousands for tickets to see the game live. Despite only taking place in the U.S., the Super Bowl is one of the most watched television broadcasts throughout the world. But, why? For most of my life, I didn’t understand the hype around football, let alone the Super Bowl. Nevertheless, in the past few years, I’ve begun to spend more time trying to understand the game. Now, I can proudly say that I not only understand the game, but enjoy watching it (the big games, at least.). Once you have it “down,” the Super Bowl can be one of your favorites, too.
The Super Bowl is more than a championship for football fans–it’s a full-scale entertainment spectacle with something for everyone. Even for people unfamiliar with football, the energy within the game and among its fans is infectious. This year’s matchup is especially exciting. The Kansas City Chiefs have a chance to become the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, while the Philadelphia Eagles are determined to avenge their defeat from two years ago.
If you don’t care much for the history, don’t feel discouraged from tuning in. Between plays, the broadcast hosts some of the most creative commercials that companies spend millions to produce. With a hefty price tag of about $7 million for 30 seconds, they are guaranteed to captivate you. My personal favorite last year was Dunkin’ Donuts’ ad because of its hilarious outfits and storyline. This year, we can expect more entertaining commercials from Häagen-Dazs, Hellmann’s, Pringles, Reese’s, and more!
When I was younger, memories from watching the Super Bowl revolved around the renowned halftime show. I’d be talking with my friends and eating snacks the whole night until all of us kids piled up in front of the television to watch the year’s special performer. Past years have consisted of Usher, Rihanna, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Bad Bunny, and even the performer for our upcoming Super Bowl: Kendrick Lamar! As a second time Super Bowl performer, Lamar is sure to be fantastic. In his past performance in 2022, he was a co-headliner with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige. This year, he will be the main headliner, and alongside him will be multi-Grammy Award winner, SZA.
Aside from the halftime show, the meat and potatoes of the “soup”er bowl come from the crowd. While some may enjoy watching sweaty men wrestle, I prefer playing a little game I like to call… Celebrity Super Bowl Spotting! Last year, Taylor Swift alone was shown in the crowd a total of 11 times! To keep us even more entertained between plays, the NFL pans to attending celebrities. Gwen Stefani, Blake Lively, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, and Beyonce were all spotted last year. And, of course, there’s the queen herself, Taylor Swift, who comes to almost every Chiefs game to support her boyfriend, Travis (soon-to-be-Swift?) Kelce.
I hope this guide has helped you in obtaining a better understanding of America’s favorite sport. But I’ll leave you with one last secret of mine: I still choose the team I’m rooting for based on which jerseys I like more. Sorry, not sorry!
