American football is the most popular sport in the United States, followed by basketball, baseball, soccer, and ice hockey. The most important game of the entire season is the Super Bowl, which concludes the playoffs and the entire football season. The term “Super Bowl” refers exclusively to the final game between two teams, played every year on the second Sunday of February since 2022. The Super Bowl is considered the most-watched TV event of the year in the U.S., with advertising time during halftime being among the most expensive globally.
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Table of Contents
History of the Super Bowl
The first-ever Super Bowl took place on January 15, 1967, at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, where the Green Bay Packers faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs. During the first four seasons, there were two competing football leagues: the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). The Super Bowl determined the ultimate season champion.
In 1970, the merger of the two leagues was finalized, leaving only the National Football League (NFL), which is divided into two conferences. Interestingly, the teams retained their original league affiliations, meaning teams from across the United States now compete in both conferences.
Since Super Bowl V in 1971, the final game has always featured the winners of the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).
The venue for the Super Bowl is announced several years in advance, with various criteria governing the selection process. For instance, the game must be played within the U.S. and in a region that is home to at least one NFL team. For the first time in Super Bowl history, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers played the championship game at their home stadium in 2021. This situation repeated the following year with the Los Angeles Rams hosting the event.
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The Super Bowl: The Most-Watched TV Event of the Year in the U.S.
📺 TV Viewership of the Super Bowl
Every February, the Super Bowl captivates even Americans who typically don’t watch sports. While overall TV viewership is generally declining, the Super Bowl still attracts over 100 million viewers in the U.S. alone.
In the list of the 10 most-watched programs in American TV history, the Super Bowl appears nine times. The only program to surpass it in any season was the live broadcast of Apollo 11’s moon landing on July 20, 1969.
💸 Cost of Super Bowl Commercials
The high cost of Super Bowl ads is directly tied to its massive viewership.
During the inaugural Super Bowl in 1967, a 30-second commercial spot cost $37,500 (adjusted to February 2025, that equals $359,732). By 1990, the average cost had risen to $700,400 (equivalent to $1,726,951 today), and by 2010, it had skyrocketed to $2,954,000 (now worth $4,301,434).
In the years following, there was a significant spike in ad costs. By 2025, the average price for a 30-second TV ad was around $8,000,000.
📊 The Most Expensive Super Bowl Commercial
The priciest commercial in Super Bowl history aired in 2022 when Amazon spent $26 million on a 130-second ad, Mind Reader, featuring Scarlett Johansson. This cost is equivalent to $28,920,000 in February 2025.
The second most expensive ad was bought by car manufacturer General Motors in 2021, costing $22 million for the airing of No Way Norway, starring Will Ferrell. Adjusted to 2025, this amounts to $26,400,000.
📢 Best Super Bowl Commercials
Super Bowl ads have become a tradition and a matter of prestige. Advertisers go to great lengths and allocate a significant portion of their budgets for these ads, some of which remain memorable for years. Check out the best Super Bowl commercials from recent years.
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Super Bowl Fun Facts
xıv Super Bowl Editions Are Denoted by Roman Numerals
Roman numerals are used to indicate Super Bowl editions.
For example, the 59th edition of the Super Bowl in the 2024/2025 season was labeled Super Bowl LIX. Since each NFL season spans two calendar years, using Roman numerals avoids potential confusion. The NFL adopted this practice because Roman numerals add an air of grandeur compared to standard numerals.
The only exception so far was Super Bowl 50, held on February 7, 2016, where Arabic numerals were used in the logo.
🍗 How Much Food Is Consumed During the Super Bowl
During the Super Bowl, Americans consume 1.25 billion chicken wings, equating to 162.5 lb million kilograms of chicken. This single weekend accounts for 7% of the nation’s annual wing consumption.
And chicken is just the start. On Super Bowl Sunday, Americans also eat 11,200,000 lb pounds of potato chips, 8,200,000 lb pounds of tortilla chips, 139,400,000 lb pounds of avocados for guacamole, and 3,800,000 lb pounds of popcorn. The amount of beer consumed could fill nearly 2,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
🍺 Food and Drink Consumption at the Stadium
During Super Bowl LIII, held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on February 3, 2019, a total of 70,081 spectators attended. At the stadium, fans consumed 16,300 hot dogs and drank 117,400 beers.
The stadium’s food offerings often include local cuisine or regional specialties. For example, during Super Bowl LIX in 2025, held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, fans could enjoy shrimp and alligator sausage.
🏟️ Where Will Future Super Bowls Be Held?
Super Bowl venues are typically selected about four years in advance. NFL representatives identify potential stadiums and approach the respective teams with hosting offers. The teams then submit proposals, which are either accepted or rejected by the league.
Hosting the Super Bowl is a major financial opportunity for the city. For instance, Super Bowl LVIII generated an estimated $1 billion in revenue for Las Vegas in 2024 from fans, sponsors, and media.
However, cities must meet numerous requirements to be considered for hosting. For example, the city’s average temperature during late January and early February must not be lower than 50°F, although an exception was granted for Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey.
Additionally, local laws must permit alcohol sales until at least 4 a.m. the following day.
🏈 How Many Footballs Are Used in the Super Bowl?
A total of 120 footballs are used during the Super Bowl, significantly more than the 54 typically used in a regular NFL game. The official supplier, Wilson Sporting Goods, provides approximately 27,000 footballs to teams and game organizers each season to meet the demand.
🏆 What Trophy Does the Super Bowl Winner Receive?
The Super Bowl champion is awarded The Vince Lombardi Trophy. This silver football atop a pedestal is named after Vincent Thomas Lombardi, widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the history of American football.
💬 Have you ever watched the Super Bowl live at the stadium? Share your experience in the discussion.
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