Super Bowl LIX (59) is a match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, February 9.
Every year, football fans around the United States celebrate Super Bowl Sunday. This Sunday is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year, but there is so much more to the Super Bowl than just football.
The Halftime Show:
A focal point of the Super Bowl is the halftime show — bringing some of the biggest names in music to a public stage attracts more than just football fans to watch.
Parade reported that artists do not get paid for their performance at the Super Bowl. The NFL does not write a check, but the publicity that comes from headlining the game is a huge promotional opportunity for the artists.
In 2024, Usher saw a 550% increase in Spotify streams after his halftime performance. Artists are known to have a spike in sales of singles, albums and concert tickets.
However, the NFL does pay for all travel and production costs.
This year, 20-time Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar is headlining the halftime show, accompanied by SZA. The two have seven songs that they previously collaborated on, including their newest hit, “Luther.”
Josh Gooding, sophomore, said, “I feel like his [Kendrick’s] music is very lyrical… It is going to be a big moment.”
Gooding said, “Everyone is going to scream the same part [of Not Like Us]”
In 2024, Lamar went viral for his iconic diss tracks against Drake. The song “Not Like Us” won five Grammys. The song attacks Drake’s character and actions during his career.
The music industry will have mixed reactions if Kendrick decides to play Not Like Us on such a big stage.
The Super Bowl Halftime show brings an additional audience and will continue to be iconic in years to come.
The Commercials:
With modern streaming services, commercials are not a big part of entertainment anymore. People pay extra money for services that allow them to watch a show all the way through without interruption. Yet, people look forward to Super Bowl commercials every year.
Victoria Cook, junior, said, “I always love watching the commercials. It is really good advertising and it gets a lot of funding for the Super Bowl to keep being a big thing.”
Having a commercial run during the Super Bowl is an expensive but worthy investment. USA Today reported that an in-game 30-second commercial costs around $7 million. Companies are paying $4.5 million for pre-game ads and $4 million for post-game ads.
Companies go above and beyond to have a memorable commercial. A good commercial can put a product in the eyes and carts of the 100-150 million people watching each year.
The commercials are so iconic that fans try to predict them in advance.
Cook said, “The first commercial is going to be Doritios.”
Landon Ange, freshman, said, “It’s going to be a movie commercial.”
Commercials will continue to be an engaging and important part of Super Bowl Sunday.
Prop Betting:
In a world of sports betting, Super Bowl Sunday does not come up short.
Prop betting relates to specific events in the Super Bowl that are not directly related to football. Many people who throw Super Bowl parties incorporate prop betting into their night, making the event more interactive and exciting.
Popular prop bets include the length of the national anthem, the color of Gatorade dumped on the winning coach, the first commercial after kick off, the result of the coin toss or the first song played during the halftime show.
Some of these bets have developed trends over time. In recent years, blue gatorade has been the most common Gatorade color poured on the winning coach. Other bets, like the coin flip, are straight forward.
Ange said, “I watch it for all of the side bets that go on.”
Prop bets can tie into the halftime show. Fans try to guess what song the artist will open with, special guests and how long the performance will last.
Gooding said, “[The first song will be] Not Like Us.”
With sports betting gaining popularity, prop betting will be bigger than ever this year. Whether it is a small wager between friends or an online bet, these predictions can make Super Bowl Sunday even more important — even for those who don’t care about the game itself.
The Super Bowl is so much more than just a football game. It is a cultural event that launches trends, brings millions of people together and gives the spotlight to various businesses. From an A-list halftime show to highly anticipated commercials and the exciting concept of prop betting, Super Bowl LIX is sure to be one to remember.
Super Bowl Sunday remains to be one of the most anticipated days of the year. No matter who wins, the Super Bowl’s influence will expand far beyond the game.
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