One hundred and twenty-three million people tuned in to watch last year’s Super Bowl, per Nielsen. Compared to the average NFL regular season game, which averages 17.9 million viewers, this event is considered by some to be a national holiday. They order food, get together with friends and watch the game.
The traditions of the Super Bowl haven’t always been around. Held in 1967, the first Super Bowl wasn’t called by its current name. It was instead called the AFL-NFL Championship Game. Additionally, the Lombardi trophy, given to the winner of the game every year, wasn’t introduced until 1970, per Fine Awards. Because of the event’s growth in popularity during the 1980s, with it being televised internationally for the first time in 1985. President Reagan doing the game’s coin toss shortly after he took his second term oath of office attracted nearly 116 million viewers in the U.S, and in addition, ‘six million people watched the Super Bowl in the United Kingdom and a similar number in Italy, according to Human Kinetics. The game gained a resurge of fans in the 2020s, with last year’s Super Bowl having a record number of viewers.
“I think that popularity growth in the 2020s with non-fans is due to Taylor Swift, because her boyfriend is on the Chiefs,” sophomore Inara Hassan said.
Because of the event’s growth in popularity during the 1980s, with it being televised internationally for the first time in 1985, President Reagan doing the game’s coin toss shortly after he took his second term oath of office attracted nearly 116 million viewers in the U.S, and in addition, six million people watched the Super Bowl in the United Kingdom and a similar number in Italy, according to Human Kinetics.
“My favorite non-game aspect of the Super Bowl is probably just going to a party with my friends and hanging out with them,” varsity football senior Garrett Carper said.
One major part of these parties is the food. According to the American Pizza Community, 12.5 million pizzas are ordered, baked and delivered on the day of the game. Another popular food is chicken wings. Bone-in or boneless, many consider wings to be a very popular Super Bowl snack.
“I usually spend time with my family and eat snacks and pizza all day,” sophomore varsity football player Mason Strait said. “It’s a good time to enjoy with family.”
Varsity football sophomore Julian Carter also has other traditions he enjoys, including the halftime show, when the NFL brings in a celebrity artist to perform for the fans. Unlike today’s halftime show, the first halftime show wasn’t performed by a celebrity, but instead by the Arizona and Grambling State marching bands, according to Sports Illustrated. Last year’s artist was Usher, and this year’s artist is Kendrick Lamar.
“I think that the halftime show is the most enjoyable part because it’s like a free concert,“ Hassan said.
Another major tradition of the Super Bowl is the advertisements. For instance, if you have an idea that is “cool” or good, then you may gain more airtime than other commercials depending on how good the idea is, per AD Club. Many commercials have gained traction, such as “Avocados from Mexico”, which was aired in 2015, and Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” commercial, which was aired in 1984.
“I like the commercials,” Strait said. “I think they are funny and I like seeing how creative they can be.”
Despite not watching the regular season or most of the playoffs, many non-football fans tune in to participate in the “holiday”. Due to this, many non-football fans participate in the traditions that come along with the game.
“I think that the Super Bowl holiday is fun and a great way for people to come together,” Hassan said. “The game is what started the holiday and the traditions are what keep it going.”
This year’s Super Bowl is on February 9 at 6:30 pm on Fox. It features the Eagles against the Chiefs.
