The Super Bowl has become a big part of American history. It is a tradition traced back to January 1967 when the first Super Bowl occurred. Over 65 million people watched the big game, according to National Football League (NFL) website, a major milestone considering television was in its earlier stages. It’s undeniable that over the years, the Super Bowl has become a staple of American culture, bringing communities together in a fun way (nfl.com).
Before the Super Bowl, there were two major football leagues, the NFL and the American Football League (AFL). The NFL-AFL championship game was the first time these two leagues played against each other, according to Time Magazine. In the first big game of the Super Bowl, in 1967, the Green Bay Packers played the Kansas City Chiefs, with the Packers emerging victorious. In the 57 years since, the game has evolved in many ways and it has become evident just how important football and the game itself is to American culture. Technology has vastly advanced, making the ability to watch the beloved sport much easier for those all around the country (time.com).
According to a study by St Bonaventure University, 47 percent of Americans say football is their favorite sport, with people loving the Super Bowl for many different reasons (sbu.edu). There’s that edge of competition that comes with it, and the unity that happens with fans during the season. If less invested in the game, many spectators simply celebrate all of the amazing American finger foods that are prepared to enjoy during the game. Even the halftime show has become an iconic event, exciting fans across the nation.
Many people say they tune in to the Super Bowl simply for the commercials. Companies spend incredible amounts of money creating the most creative and funny commercials of the year. The Super Bowl is one of the largest sporting events, with 115.1 million people viewing the Super Bowl last year. With that many people watching one sports event, at one time, it is a great marketing strategy to create great commercials, but the event clearly is far more than a marketing strategy for those tuning in, meaning something deeper to millions of Americans (theathletic.com).
Junior Clara Caradoso said, “Coming to America from Brazil, it was interesting to see that football is such a big deal to Americans. The culture difference is crazy because it is just as big as soccer in South America.” It’s easy for people who grew up in America to see the unity that the Super Bowl brings, but knowing its importance from an outsider’s perspective reaffirms its impact.
Although many people would choose to argue that the Super Bowl is overrated and just a big scam to sell advertisements, they fail to see how communities gather and bond over the game. The Super Bowl brings unity and a fun way to gather with friends and family and choose a team to root for if your home team isn’t in the game. Even though a multitude of companies pay millions of dollars to hopefully earn millions off Super Bowl commercials, these advertisements have become part of the event’s charm, bringing further excitement to the game. Furthermore, the Super Bowl allows for people to come together over an all-around loved sport. It’s a time when people can leave drama behind and lock into the game, eating great food and having fun times together, enjoying the laughter and quality time.