What is it about the Super Bowl that makes it the most watched sporting events of the year? Perhaps it’s the diehard fans, or anticipation of new commercials that draw more than 111 million viewers. Maybe fans just look forward to sharing the day with friends. Some 12.2 million social media comments are made on Super Bowl Sunday. Last year, fans sent 10,000 tweets per second during the final 3-minutes of the game.
Alicia Keys will kick off Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans with her rendition of the National Anthem. Beyonce and Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams reunite for the half-time show, but it wasn’t always star-studded. In 1967 at Super Bowl I, the University of Arizona and Grambling State University marching bands performed the National Anthem, while trumpeter Al Hirt performed with them in the half-time show.
Only three Super Bowls have been represented by a single Roman numeral – Super Bowl One, Five, and Ten (I, V, and X). But, we only have to wait until 2016 to see a single numeral again with Super Bowl 50 (L). After that we have to wait 50 years for Super Bowl 100 (C) in 2066.
Fans will eat 1.23 billion chicken wings or 100 million pounds on Sunday, and Dominos Pizza will deliver 11 million pieces of pizza. Fans will down 11.2 million pounds of potato chips and 8 million pounds of guacamole. They will wash it down with 51.7 million cases of beer.
Viewers don’t take commercial breaks because the Super Bowl is the most famous introduction to new product commercials. A 30-second television commercial cost $42,000 at Super Bowl I, but Sunday’s commercials will cost some $3.8 million for a 30-second spot.
So, how big of a fan are you really? Do you know how many times a wide receiver was named Super Bowl MVP? Or, who kicked the longest field goal at 54 yards? Which team holds the record for the most fumbles? Try your hand online at NFL 2-Minute Trivia.
Enjoy the game!