Here we are once more with one of the best things that unites us. With a record-breaking 213.1 million U.S. adults expected to tune into Super Bowl LX at some point, today’s game has our attention.
Roughly 121.1 million of us plan to attend or host a party.
Total spending on food, drinks and decor is expected to reach an eye-opening $20.2 billion.
What else? Why pay attention?
One key driver is the halftime show, this year featuring global icon, Bad Bunny. Latino viewership is expected to thus increase, with many curious as to what the talented Puerto Rican superstar will actually sing and say. Will it be remembered along with the other memorable mid-game moments? …
- Lady Gaga… diving from the top of Houston’s NRG Stadium to start the illustrious show…
- Prince… playing “Purple Rain” in the rain in Miami in one of the best performances ever…
- Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake… teaching the whole world simultaneously the definition of “wardrobe malfunction”…
And then there are the commercials. According to CBS News, approximately 48% of us are tuning in specifically for the commercials.
NBC, the game’s network host, sold out of all commercial spots, with 30-second ad slots priced at $10 million. The purported lineup is said to heavily focus on AI, celebrity appearances and pharmaceuticals, with many most anticipating Budweiser’s “American Icons” and Pepsi Zero Sugar’s “The Choice.” Will they be remembered along with the other memorable advertisements? …
- Apple’s “1984”… spoofing George Orwell’s acclaimed dystopian novel, showing a runner sprinting past rows of entranced viewers staring at a Big Brother–style figure on a massive screen. She smashes the screen with a sledgehammer, followed by a voiceover declaring, “On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you’ll see why 1984 won’t be like 1984”… one of the most memorable ads ever…
- Coke’s “Hey Kid, Catch!”… highlighting the many clever Coca-Cola marketing geniuses through the years, showing a different side to the then ferocious Steelers defensive end, “Mean Joe” Greene, as a small boy offers Joe his Coke after a difficult game to cheer him up. “Want my Coke? Really. You can have it.” As the kid turns to exit, Greene downs the Coke, calls the boy, and tosses him his jersey…
- Volkswagon’s “The Force”… introducing a miniature Darth Vader during the 2011 Super Bowl, and the moment quickly became unforgettable. The ad shows the young villain wandering his house, attempting to use the Force to no avail. But when his father pulls into the driveway in a Volkswagen Passat, the child’s powers suddenly appear to work — with a little hidden help from Dad…
[Not to omit Budweiser’s Clydesdales and the decades of athletes who’ve declared on Super Bowl Sunday their intention to soon head to Disneyworld. Honorable mention goes to Budweiser’s infamous, simple question still heard today: “Whassup?”]
As for this Sunday…
Super Bowl LX is being played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the 49ers, and it’s a milestone moment: the 60th Super Bowl and the second time this stadium has hosted since Super Bowl 50.
The matchup? Seahawks vs. Patriots, a straight-up rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, but with a totally new cast. There are indeed some great stories. Seahawk QB Sam Darnold, now on his fifth team in 8 years, is finally “the guy” for an NFL team, while Patriot Drake Maye, in only year two, has people whispering about early-Brady vibes in New England. Note that Patriot coach Mike Vrabel becomes the first person to reach a Super Bowl as both a player and head coach for the same franchise.
There’s a huge game, so many stories, and yes, so much more to watch. That’s why we tune in. Can’t wait for those commercials…
Respectfully…
AR