The Super Bowl: More Than Just Football

Written by: Sitara Nair

This past weekend, (2/9/2025), was the annual 59th Superbowl in the United States. The superbowl isn’t just a football game for many, it’s also considered an event of community, hard work, and fun; let’s find out why!

Context

Every year, the game is hosted by the NFL, across various cities in the United States, since 1967. Superbowl Sunday has become an unofficial American holiday, with Americans hosting parties nationwide to watch the big game. It has become one of the greatest televised sports events of all time, attracting celebrities ranging from singer/songwriter Taylor Swift, to President Donald J. Trump.

Advertising

The superbowl tickets themselves are absurdly expensive, often costing thousands of dollars, but the real money comes from the commercials displayed. In 2016, a 30 second advertisement would cost approx. 4.8 million dollars, making it one of the biggest advertising avenues for big corporate companies. This year, the price increased 1 million dollars from 2024, sitting at an average price of $8 million per 30 second commercial. Peter Bray, founder and executive producer of the advertising company Bray & Co., announced that total ad sales reached hundreds of millions. He also predicted that within a few years, the figure could climb into the billions. The most expensive commercial to ever air was in 2022, costing approximately $26 million. The advertisement was from Amazon, titled Mind Reader, and included famous actor Scarlet Johanson and comedian Colin Jost as a couple. The ad portrayed Alexa as a mind reader, capable of ordering items, playing music, and exposing the couple's thoughts, and was unforgettable, considering the cost. Peter Bray, in a conversation with CBS MoneyWatch shared that the Super Bowl is the only time the general population tends to care about commercials, and enjoy watching them, making it, “the advertising industry's Super Bowl as well”.

This Year (2/9/2025)

In Super Bowl LIX, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs with a score of 40-22. This victory marked the Eagles' second Super Bowl title, with quarterback Jalen Hurts earning the Most Valuable Player award. Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, finishing with 222 passing yards and adding 72 rushing yards to his impressive performance! The Chiefs were devastated and ultimately disheartened by this loss, as they were striving for a historic achievement known as a “3-peat”, winning the Super Bowl three times in a row. This rare accomplishment has never been completed, making the defeat even more crushing for the team.

Additionally, exceptional rapper Kendrick Lamar performed during halftime, with a 13 minute set. He played a number of songs from his discography, including his hit song “Not Like Us”, which won four Grammys just a week prior. He also played highly anticipated songs, “Luther” and “All the Stars”, with hit musician, SZA, storming up with quite the support from fans. 

Quick Facts: 

• The average ticket price for the past five Super Bowls was $7,584.

• An estimated 17.6 million Americans plan to watch the game at a bar or restaurant.

• Over the past two decades, the cost of a 30-second Super Bowl commercial has increased by approximately 264%. In 2005, the average price was around $2.2 million, while in 2025, it reached $8 million. 

• The 2026 Super Bowl is confirmed to be at the Levi’s Stadium

Super excited for next year! Will you be tuning in?