The Super Bowl: What you didn't know about the run-up and prize money

by Joost Nusselder | Updated on:  February 19 2023

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The Super Bowl is one of the BIGGEST sporting events in the world and a holiday for many people. But what is it exactly?

The Super Bowl is the final of the professional American Football League (NFL). It is the only competition in which the champions of the two divisions (NFC en AFC) play against each other. The match has been played since 1967 and is one of the most popular sporting events in the world.

In this article I'll explain what the Super Bowl is exactly and how it came about.

What is the super bowl

What we discuss in this comprehensive post:

The Super Bowl: The Ultimate American Football Final

The Super Bowl is the annual event where the champions of the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC) compete against each other. It is one of the most watched sporting events in the world, with over a hundred million viewers. Super Bowl XLIX, played in 2015, was the most watched program ever in the United States with 114,4 million viewers.

How did the Super Bowl come about?

The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Conference. In 1959, the league received competition from the American Football League (AFL). In 1966 an agreement was reached to merge the two unions in 1970. In 1967, the two champions of both leagues played the first final known as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, which would later become known as the first Super Bowl.

How is the run-up to the Super Bowl going?

The American Football season traditionally starts in September. The thirty-two teams play their matches in the NFC and the AFC respectively in their own division of four teams. The competitions will be over by the end of December, after which the play-offs will be played in January. The winners of the playoffs, one from the NFC and one from the AFC, will play the Super Bowl. The game is usually played at a neutral site, and the stadium is usually fixed three to five years before the respective Super Bowl.

The match itself

The game was always held in January until 2001, but from 2004 the game is always played in the first week of February. After the game, the winning team will be awarded the “Vince Lombardi” trophy, named after the coach of the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins who died of cancer in 1970. The best player is awarded the MVP trophy.

Television and entertainment

The Super Bowl is not only a sporting event, but also a television event. Many special performances are provided during the half-time show, including the singing of the national anthem and performances by well-known artists.

Wins and final places per team

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers have the most wins, with six. The San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers have the most final places, with five.

What is the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is the most prestigious event in American football. There is a big battle between two teams, the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. They are organized by the National Football League (NFL) and the winner becomes the champion of both leagues.

The importance of the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is one of the most hyped events in sports. Much is at stake; prestige, money and other interests. The match is always exciting because it is between the two champions.

Who's playing in the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is a game between the two champions of the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. These two champions compete for the title of Super Bowl champion.

The Birth of the Super Bowl

The American Professional Football Conference

The American Professional Football Conference was founded in 1920, and soon got the name we know today: the National Football League. In the 1959s, the league received competition from the American Football League, which was founded in XNUMX.

The fusion

In 1966, the two unions met for merger talks, and an agreement was reached on June 8. In 1970 the two unions would come together as one.

The First Super Bowl

In 1967, the first final was played between the two champions of both leagues, known as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. This later became known as the first Super Bowl, played annually between the champions of the National Football Conference (the old National Football League, now part of the merger) and the American Football Conference (formerly the American Football League).

The road to the Super Bowl

The start of the season

The American Football season begins in September each year. The thirty-two teams will compete in the NFC and the AFC respectively. Each of these divisions consists of four teams.

The playoffs

The competition ends at the end of December. The playoffs will be played in January. These matches determine the two champions, one from the NFC and one from the AFC. These two teams will compete in the Super Bowl.

The Superbowl

The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of the American football season. The two champions battle for the title. Who will be the winner? We'll have to wait and see!

The Super Bowl: The annual spectacle

The Super Bowl is an annual spectacle that everyone looks forward to. The game has been played in the first week of February since 2004. The stadium where the match takes place is determined several years in advance.

Home and away team

As the match is usually played at a neutral venue, there is an arrangement to determine the home and away team. The AFC teams are the home team in the even-numbered Super Bowls, while the NFC teams have home field advantage in the odd-numbered Super Bowls. The Super Bowl running numbers are written with Roman numerals.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy

After the game, the winner is awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins coach who passed away from cancer in 1970. The best player receives the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.

The Super Bowl: An event to look forward to

The Super Bowl is an annual event that everyone looks forward to. The game is always played in the first week of February. The stadium where the match takes place is determined several years in advance.

There is an arrangement to determine the home and away team. The AFC teams are the home team in the even-numbered Super Bowls, while the NFC teams have home field advantage in the odd-numbered Super Bowls. The Super Bowl running numbers are written with Roman numerals.

The winner is awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins coach who passed away from cancer in 1970. The best player receives the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.

In short, the Super Bowl is an event that everyone looks forward to. A game where the best teams from the AFC and NFC compete against each other to capture the title of Super Bowl champion. A spectacle you don't want to miss!

How much money can you make at the Super Bowl?

The price for participating

The Super Bowl is one of the most watched sporting events in the world, with advertisers and media pouring millions into it. If you enter the competition, you will receive a nice amount of $56.000 as a player. If you are part of the winning team, you double that amount.

The price for advertising

If you want to run a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl, you're out $5 million. Perhaps the most expensive 30 seconds ever!

The price for watching

If you just want to watch the Super Bowl, you don't have to pay anything. You can just enjoy the game at home, with a nice bowl of chips and a soft drink. That's a lot cheaper than $5 million!

From National Anthem to Halftime Show: A Look at the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl: An American Tradition

The Super Bowl is an annual tradition in the United States. The match will be broadcast alternately on the CBS, Fox and NBC channels, and in Europe on the British channel BBC and various Fox channels. Before the start of the game, the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, is traditionally sung by a well-known artist. Some of these artists include Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Whitney Houston, Cher, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, and Lady Gaga.

Halftime Show: A Spectacular Show

A halftime show is held during halftime of a Super Bowl game. This has been a tradition since the first Super Bowl in 1967. Later on, well-known pop artists were invited. Some of these artists are Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Chaka Khan, Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Savion Glover, Kiss, Faith Hill, Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, Shania Twain, No Doubt , Sting, Beyoncé Knowles, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, Queen Latifah, Backstreet Boys, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Aerosmith, *NSYNC, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Nelly, Renée Fleming, Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Idina Menzel, Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Luke Bryan, Justin Timberlake, Gladys Knight, Maroon5, Travis Scott, Big Boi, Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Jazmine Sullivan, Eric Church, The Weeknd, Mickey Guyton, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Chris Stapleton, Rihanna and many others.

A Nipplegate Riot

During Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004, the performance of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake caused a huge commotion when a breast of the singer was briefly visible during the performance, which became widely known as nipplegate. As a result, the Super Bowl will now be broadcast with a slight delay.

History of the Super Bowl

The first edition

The first Super Bowl was played in January 1967, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Packers, from Green Bay, Wisconsin, were the champions of the National Football League (NFL) and the Chiefs, from Kansas City, Missouri, were the champions of the American Football League (AFL).

The 70's

The 70s were marked by changes. The first Super Bowl played in a city other than Los Angeles was Super Bowl IV in 1970, when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. In 1975, the Pittsburgh Steelers won their first Super Bowl, beating the Minnesota Vikings at Tulane Stadium.

The 80's

The '80s was a boom time for the Super Bowl. In 1982, the San Francisco 49ers won their first Super Bowl, beating the Cincinnati Bengals at Michigan's Pontiac Silverdome. In 1986, the Chicago Bears won their first Super Bowl, beating the New England Patriots at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

The 90's

The '90s was a boom time for the Super Bowl. In 1990, the San Francisco 49ers won their second Super Bowl, beating the Denver Broncos at the Louisiana Superdome. In 1992, the Washington Redskins won their third Super Bowl, beating the Buffalo Bills in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The 2000s

The 2000s were a time of change for the Super Bowl. In 2003, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their first Super Bowl, beating the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. In 2007, the New York Giants won their second Super Bowl, beating the New England Patriots at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The 2010s

The 2010s was a boom time for the Super Bowl. In 2011, the Green Bay Packers won their fourth Super Bowl, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In 2013, the Baltimore Ravens won their second Super Bowl, beating the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

The 2020s

The 2020s are marked by changes. In 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs won their second Super Bowl, beating the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. In 2021, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their second Super Bowl, beating the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The Super Bowl: Who won the most?

The Super Bowl is the ultimate competition in American sports. Each year, the best teams in the National Football League (NFL) compete for the title of Super Bowl champion. But who won the most?

The Super Bowl record holders

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots are joint record holders with six Super Bowl wins. Barack Obama even wore a Steelers shirt!

The other teams

The following teams have also made their mark in Super Bowl history:

  • San Francisco 49ers: 5 wins
  • Dallas Cowboys: 5 wins
  • Green Bay Packers: 4 wins
  • New York Giants: 4 wins
  • Denver Broncos: 3 wins
  • Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders: 3 wins
  • Washington Football Team/Washington Redskins: 3 wins
  • Kansas City Chiefs: 2 wins
  • Miami Dolphins: 2 wins
  • Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams: 1 win
  • Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts: 1 win
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1 win
  • Baltimore Ravens: 1 win
  • Philadelphia Eagles: 1 win
  • Seattle Seahawks: 1 win
  • Chicago Bears: 1 win
  • New Orleans Saints: 1 win
  • New York Jets: 1 final place
  • Minnesota Vikings: 4 final places
  • Buffalo Bills: 4 final places
  • Cincinnati Bengals: 2 final places
  • Carolina Panthers: 2 final places
  • Atlanta Falcons: 2 final places
  • San Diego Chargers: 1 final place
  • Tennessee Titans: 1 place in the finals
  • Arizona Cardinals: 1 final place

The teams that have never made it

The Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans have never made it to the Super Bowl. Maybe that will change this year!

Ten things you need to know about Super Bowl Sunday

The largest one-day sporting event in the world

With estimates of 111.5 million viewers in the Americas alone and a global estimate of 170 million, the Super Bowl is the largest single-day sporting event in the world. Commercials cost as much as four million dollars, liquor stores have a month's turnover in a day and Monday you won't see a dog on the street: that's the Super Bowl for you!

Americans are sports crazy

Stadiums are almost always packed to the brim, even on weekdays. For a game like the Super Bowl, thousands of fans want to see the game live. People literally come from all over the country, with the chance to watch the game live in the stadium or else in one of the city's watering holes.

The media drives us crazy

Before the Super Bowl, a thousand journalists flock to the place where it all has to happen. There is no shortage of interviews, the NFL instructs players to be available to all journalists for an hour three times.

The athletes are not crazy

All these guys have been trained to deal with media since they were eighteen. You'll never catch them making too juicy a statement. One of the biggest stories in recent years comes from Marshawn Lynch, who simply decided not to say anything.

The match will be epic

A massacre like in 2020 is an exception. The score was within two touchdowns the ten years before that. In six of the last seven meetings, the margin was within one score difference, so the game remained exciting literally until the last seconds.

No shortage of controversy

The New England Patriots who were in the finals in 2021 were suspected of deflating balls. The Patriots were fined years ago for illegally recording opposing signals. In addition, there are Nipplegate, a power failure that delayed the game, the 'Helmet Catch', and so on.

Defense Win Championships

In 2020, the cliché 'Defense wins Championships' turned out to be true. Seattle's Legion of Boom left no stone unturned in the offensive finesse of the Denver Broncos.

You learn the rules as you go

It's not hard to get the rules learn about American Football. The NFL has a large rule information website where you can learn all about the game.

The Super Bowl is more than just a game

The Super Bowl is more than just a game. There is huge hype around the event, with a half time show, a pre-game show and a post-game show. There are also many gatherings and parties surrounding the game, where people gather to celebrate the game.

Differences

Super Bowl Vs Nba Final

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. With over 100 million viewers in the United States alone, it is one of the most watched television events in the world. The NBA Finals is also a big event, but it doesn't have the same scope as the Super Bowl. The four games of the 2018 NBA Finals averaged about 18,5 million viewers per game in the US. So when you look at the ratings, the Super Bowl is clearly the biggest event.

Although the Super Bowl has a lot more viewers, the NBA Finals is still a big event. The NBA Finals is one of the most watched sporting events in the US and is an important part of American culture. The NBA Finals is also one of the most exciting events in sports, with teams competing for the championships. So even though the Super Bowl has a lot more viewers, the NBA Finals is still a big event.

Super Bowl Vs Champions League Final

The Super Bowl and the Champions League final are two of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. While they both offer a high level of competition and entertainment, there are some key differences between the two.

The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL). It is an American sport played by teams from the United States and Canada. The finale is one of the most watched television broadcasts in the world, with millions of viewers.

The Champions League final is the annual championship game of European football competition. It is a European sport played by teams from more than 50 countries. The finale is also one of the most watched television broadcasts in the world, with millions of viewers.

While both events offer a high level of competition and entertainment, there are some key differences between the two. The Super Bowl is an American sport while the Champions League is a European sport. The Super Bowl is played by teams from the United States and Canada, while the Champions League is played by teams from more than 50 countries. In addition, the Super Bowl is an annual event, while the Champions League is a seasonal competition.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of referees.eu is a content marketer, father and loves to write about all kinds of sports, and has also played a lot of sports himself for most of his life. Now since 2016, he and his team have been creating helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with their sports activities.