|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
In professional American football, the Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). It and its ancillary festivities constitute Super Bowl Sunday, which over the years has become the most-watched U.S. television broadcast of the year, and has become likened to a de facto U.S. national holiday.[1] In addition, many popular singers and musicians have performed during the Super Bowl’s pre-game and halftime ceremonies. This is also the second-largest U.S. food consumption day, following Thanksgiving.[2]
The Super Bowl was first played on January 15, 1967 as part of the merger agreement between the NFL and its younger rival, the American Football League (AFL) in which each league’s championship team would play each other in an “AFL-NFL World Championship Game”. After the completion of the merger in 1970, the Super Bowl became the NFL’s championship game, played between the champions of the league’s two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather than the year it was held since the NFL season extends beyond New Year’s Eve. For example, the New York Giants, winners of Super Bowl XLII are the champions of the 2007 season, even though the championship game was played in February 2008.
The winning Super Bowl team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Origins
The Super Bowl was created as part of the merger agreement between the National Football League (NFL) and its competitive rival, the American Football League (AFL). After its inception in 1920, the NFL fended off several rival leagues before the AFL began play in 1960. The intense competitive war for players and fans led to serious merger talks between the two leagues in 1966, culminating in a merger announcement on June 8, 1966.
One of the conditions of the AFL-NFL Merger was that the winners of each league’s championship game would meet in a contest to determine the “world champion of football”. According to NFL Films President Steve Sabol, then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle wanted to call the game “The Big One”.[3] During the discussions to iron out the details, AFL founder and Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt had jokingly referred to the proposed interleague championship as the “Super Bowl”. Hunt thought of the name after seeing his kids playing with a toy called a Super Ball.[4] The ball is now on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The name was consistent with postseason college football games which had long been known as “bowl games”. The “bowl” term originated from the Rose Bowl Game, which was in turn named for the bowl-shaped stadium in which it is played. Hunt only meant his suggested name to be a stopgap until a better one could be found. Nevertheless, the name “Super Bowl” became permanent.
After the NFL’s Green Bay Packers convincingly won the first two Super Bowls, some team owners feared for the future of the merger. At the time, many doubted the competitiveness of AFL teams compared with NFL counterparts. That perception all changed with one of the biggest upsets in sports history, the AFL’s New York Jets defeat of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in Miami. One year later, the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs defeated the NFL Minnesota Vikings 23-7 and won Super Bowl IV in New Orleans, the last World Championship game played between the champions of the two leagues.
The game is played annually on a Sunday as the final game of the NFL Playoffs. Originally the game took place in early to mid-January following a 14-game regular season and playoffs. Over the years the date of the Super Bowl has progressed from the second Sunday in January, to the third, then the fourth Sunday in January; the game is now played on the first Sunday in February, given the current 17-week (16 games and one bye week) regular season and three rounds of playoffs. This progression of the date of the Super Bowl has been caused by the following: the expansion of the NFL regular season in 1978 from 14 games to 16, the expansion of the pre-Super Bowl playoffs from two rounds to three (also in 1978), the addition of the regular season bye-week in the 1990s, and the decision prior to the 2003 season to start the regular season the week after Labor Day, moving the start of the season to a week later than it had been (in 1997, for example, the regular season started on Sunday, August 31). Former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle is often considered the mastermind of both the merger and the Super Bowl. His leadership guided them into the merger agreement and cemented the preeminence of the Super Bowl.
The winning team gets the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named for the coach of the Green Bay Packers, who won the first two Super Bowl games and 3 of the 5 preceding NFL championships (1961-62, 1965). Following his death in September 1970, the trophy was then named the Vince Lombardi Trophy, first awarded as such to the Baltimore Colts at Super Bowl V in Miami. Super Bowl III was the first to be numbered. Super Bowls I and II were not known as such until the game’s third year.
National Special Security Event
The Super Bowl has been designated a National Special Security Event by the United States Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security every year since 2002, the year of Super Bowl XXXVI. That means that the stadium and surrounding area face increased security measures, especially on game day. Among other things, this means that the once-ubiquitous blimps (according to NFL Films’ Steve Sabol, Super Bowl XXI had four of them) have been grounded.
Television coverage
By any measure, the Super Bowl is the most watched television program of the year in the U.S.[citation needed] The game tends to have high Nielsen television ratings which usually come in around a 40 rating and 60 share (i.e., on average, 40 percent of all U.S. households, and 60 percent of all homes tuned into television during the game). This means that on average, 80 to 90 million Americans are tuned into the Super Bowl at any given moment. It is also estimated that 130-140 million tune into some part of the game.[5] NFL press releases have stated that recent Super Bowls have been available to potential audiences of approximately one billion worldwide, although independent studies suggest that the average global viewership is just over 100 million – the vast majority of whom are U.S. viewers.[6]
Given the immense popularity of the Super Bowl, it may be surprising to discover that videotapes of the telecasts of the first two Super Bowls are not known to exist. This is especially shocking for Super Bowl I, which was covered by both NBC and CBS. According to Sports Illustrated, the only footage of the first telecast known to exist is a two minute clip of the first game. From the early days of television into the 1960s, copies of TV broadcasts were routinely erased, known as wiping, mainly because nobody thought anyone would want to watch the same show they had just seen. Another reason was that videotape in those days was prohibitively expensive.[citation needed]
The highest-rated game according to Nielsen was Super Bowl XVI in 1982, which was watched in 49.1 percent of households (73 share) or 40,020,000 households at the time. Super Bowl XVI is #4 on Nielsen’s list of top-rated programs of all time, and 3 other Super Bowls (XII, XVII, and XX) made the top 10.[7] Super Bowl XLII in 2008 holds the record for total U.S. viewership, attracting an average audience of 97.5 million and ranking second only to the final episode of M*A*S*H in 1983. Although the proliferation of cable and satellite television has undercut broadcast ratings somewhat in recent years, the game is still sufficiently popular that a number of networks actually schedule original programming, such as independently produced halftime entertainment, during the game, simply to take advantage of a large audience already in front of the television.
Following Apple Computer’s 1984 commercial introducing the Macintosh computer, directed by Ridley Scott, the broadcast of the Super Bowl became the premier showcase for high concept or simply extravagantly expensive commercials. Famous commercial campaigns include the Budweiser “Bud Bowl” campaign, and the 1999 and 2000 dot-com ads. Prices have increased each year, with reports citing a record US$2.7 million for a 30 second spot during Super Bowl XLII in 2008. A segment of the audience tunes in to the Super Bowl solely to watch the creative commercials.
Super Bowl on TV
Network Number broadcast Years broadcast Future scheduled telecasts
ABC*[›] 7 1985, 1988, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2006 N/A
CBS 16 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2001, 2004, 2007 2010
FOX 5 1997, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 2011
NBC 15 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998 2009, 2012
^ *: Not currently broadcasting NFL.
The first Super Bowl was simultaneously broadcast by CBS and NBC.
The network that airs the Super Bowl typically takes advantage of the large audience to air an episode of a hit series (Friends, Grey’s Anatomy, Survivor, The Simpsons, Criminal Minds) or to premiere the pilot of a promising new series (The Wonder Years, Family Guy, Davis Rules, The A-Team, King of the Hill) in the lead-out slot, immediately following the Super Bowl and the post-game coverage.
Entertainment
Earlier Super Bowls/NFL Championships featured halftime show consisting of marching bands from local colleges or high schools. But as the popularity of the game increased, so did the potential of exposure. This has led to trend where a number of popular singers and musicians have performed during its pre-game ceremonies, the halftime show, or even just singing the national anthem of the United States, “The Star-Spangled Banner”.[8] For example, Super Bowl XLI in 2007 featured Cirque du Soleil, Romero Britto, and Louie Vega during the pre-game ceremonies; Billy Joel performed the Star Spangled Banner; and Prince played during the halftime show. Unlike regular season or playoff games, thirty minutes are allocated for the Super Bowl halftime.
One especially memorable performance came in 2002, when U2 performed. During their second song, “Where the Streets Have No Name,” the band played under a large projection screen which scrolled through all the names of the victims of 9/11.
The halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 generated controversy, when Justin Timberlake removed a piece of Janet Jackson’s top, exposing her right breast with a star-shaped ring around the nipple. Timberlake and Jackson have maintained that the incident was accidental, calling it a “wardrobe malfunction.” The game was airing live on CBS, and MTV (at the time, a corporate sister company of CBS within Viacom) produced the halftime show. Immediately after that moment, the producer cut to a very wide-angle shot and cut to a commercial break. However, video captures of the moment in detail circulated quickly on the Internet. The NFL, embarrassed by the incident, permanently banned MTV from doing another halftime show in any capacity. This also led to the FCC tightening controls on indecency and fining CBS US$225,000 for the incident, as well as fining each of CBS’s then twenty owned and operated stations. The following year, Paul McCartney gave an uncontroversial halftime performance for Super Bowl XXXIX.
Except for Super Bowl XXXIX, the famous “I’m Going to Disney World!” advertising campaign took place at every Super Bowl since it started at Super Bowl XXI. Typically, Disney ran the ad several times during the game showing several players from both teams practicing the catch-phrase. The campaign has been restarted for Super Bowl XLI.
Venue
Looking toward Ford Field the night of Super Bowl XL.Twenty-five out of forty-one Super Bowls have been played in one of three cities: New Orleans, Louisiana (nine times), the Greater Miami Area (nine total), and the Greater Los Angeles Area (seven total). The three “big” hosts are then followed by Tampa, Florida and San Diego, both having hosted the Super Bowl three times.
Miami Gardens has been selected to host Super Bowl XLIV in 2010. Although Hurricane Katrina damaged the Louisiana Superdome and the city of New Orleans, it was renovated. Some city officials have stated that they would like to put in another bid sometime in the future. The last time the Los Angeles area hosted the game was Super Bowl XXVII in 1993; the area is currently not considered a possible venue after the league’s two teams vacated the city in 1995: the Raiders moved back to Oakland, California, and the Rams moved to St. Louis, Missouri.
On March 5, 2006, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, a ‘cold weather’ city, was awarded the rights to host Super Bowl XLIX in 2015. However, the game was contingent on the successful passage of two sales taxes in Jackson County, Missouri on April 4, 2006. The first tax would have funded improvements to Arrowhead, home of the Chiefs and the Kansas City Wizards Major League Soccer team, and neighboring Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball team. The second tax would have allowed the construction of a “rolling roof” between the two stadiums.[9] However, the second tax failed to pass. With increased opposition by local business leaders and politicians, Kansas City eventually withdrew its request to host the game by May 25, 2006.[10] Before that, Super Bowl XLIV, scheduled for January 2010, was withdrawn from New York City’s proposed West Side Stadium, also to have been a retractable roof facility, because the city, state, and proposed tenants New York Jets could not agree on funding. The game was then awarded to Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Selection process
The location of the Super Bowl is chosen by the NFL well in advance, usually 3 to 5 years before the game. Cities place bids to host a Super Bowl. Candidate cities are evaluated in terms of stadium renovation and ability to host a Super Bowl.[11] Then the NFL owners meet to make a selection on the site. The sites for the next 4 Super Bowls have been determined, up to Super Bowl XLV in 2011. On October 16, 2007, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suggested that a future Super Bowl might be played in London, probably at Wembley Stadium.[12] There is also a minimum average temperature requirement for outdoor stadiums to be considered as possible venues.
Home team designation
The designated “home team” alternates between the NFC team in odd-numbered games (the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI in February 2007), and the AFC team in even-numbered games (the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in February 2008). This alternation was initiated with the first Super Bowl, when the Green Bay Packers of the NFL were the designated home team.
Since Super Bowl XIII in January 1979, the home team is given the choice of jerseys, colored or white. Formerly, the designated home team was specified to wear their colored jerseys; this resulted in Dallas donning their less familiar blue jerseys for Super Bowl V.
While most of the home teams in the Super Bowl have chosen to wear their colored jerseys, there have been four exceptions; the Cowboys twice (XIII & XXVII), the Washington Redskins (XVII), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (XL). The Cowboys (since 1965) and Redskins (since the arrival of coach Joe Gibbs in 1981) have traditionally worn white jerseys at home. Meanwhile, the Steelers, who have always worn their black jerseys at home since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, opted for the white jerseys after winning three consecutive playoff games on the road, wearing white. The Steelers’ decision was contrasted with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. The Patriots had worn white jerseys at home during the 1985 season, but after winning road playoff games against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins wearing red jerseys, New England opted to wear red for the Super Bowl as the designated home team.
Stadiums to host the Super Bowl
Stadium Location Years hosted NFL tenant
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, California 1967, 1973 Los Angeles Rams
Miami Orange Bowl Miami, Florida 1968, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1979 Miami Dolphins
Tulane Stadium New Orleans, Louisiana 1970, 1972, 1975 New Orleans Saints
Rice Stadium Houston, Texas 1974
Rose Bowl Pasadena, California 1977, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1993
Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana 1978, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1997, 2002 New Orleans Saints
Pontiac Silverdome Pontiac, Michigan 1982 Detroit Lions
Tampa Stadium Tampa, Florida 1984, 1991 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stanford Stadium Palo Alto, California 1985
Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, California 1988, 1998, 2003 San Diego Chargers
Dolphin Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida 1989, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2010 Miami Dolphins
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, Minnesota 1992 Minnesota Vikings
Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia 1994, 2000 Atlanta Falcons
Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, Arizona 1996 Arizona Cardinals
Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida 2001, 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Reliant Stadium Houston, Texas 2004 Houston Texans
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Jacksonville, Florida 2005 Jacksonville Jaguars
Ford Field Detroit, Michigan 2006 Detroit Lions
University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Arizona 2008 Arizona Cardinals
Dallas Cowboys New Stadium Arlington, Texas 2011 Dallas Cowboys
Future games in italics.
Events leading up to the game
There are many annual events that are conducted in association with the game.
Current
The NFL Experience is a theme park-like attraction that aims to share the excitement of the game with those who cannot buy tickets to see it. The attraction includes football-themed games, including skills, and special events. Proceeds go toward the NFL’s initiative of afterschool education.
Taste of the NFL is a food sampling event that has been held annually since 1992. The menu includes items from every city or area with a NFL team. Guests sit at tables alongside current and former players. Proceeds benefit America’s Second Harvest and other hunger relief programs.
The NFL Alumni has an annual “Player of the Year” dinner honoring top players and raising money for its charitable efforts. In recent years, the organization has expanded its Super Bowl week lineup to include bowling and golf tournaments.
The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration combines gospel music performances and Christian testimonies from athletes and celebrities.
A recent addition has been a “block party” held the night (or more) before the game. This features food and live entertainment and is free to the public. The Super Bowl XLI block party was a three-day event; however, the Super Bowl XLII host committee will only stage a one-night event, “Super Bowl Saturday Night,” at Tempe Town Lake.
The Pepsi Super Smash concert series is another recent addition, in which top recording artists perform at an adjacent venue. The events are televised.
Since 2004, a gala, black-tie “welcome event” has been held in each city. The first, which was held in Houston, Texas, was hosted by Jim Nantz of CBS Sports and featured comments by former president George H.W. Bush.
Other events may be added by local organizers. For example, in 2007, “Spike,” the mascot of the SB XLII host committee, held a tour of 42 different cities in the state of Arizona, matching the current Super Bowl number. At each stop, usually a public event or festival, Spike gave out a game ball to a city official. The last game ball was presented to the city of Glendale at the opening of the NFL Experience on January 26, 2008.[13]
The Super Bowl Breakfast is organized annually by Athletes in Action, an organization that combines Christian ministry and sports. The Bart Starr Award is given away annually at this event.
Former
The Global Junior Football Championship will not be held in 2008; it had been run for the previous 10 years. It was a two-day tournament featuring high school players from the United States and several other countries.
“The Game Before the Game” was a promotional contest sponsored by 989 Sports (now 2K Sports) for its line of NFL video games. Each year from 1997 to 2004, one player from each team would gather at a hotel at the Super Bowl site and play a simulated game. The action would also be projected onto a big screen at the site, and in the last few years, at Wal-Mart stores as well. Every year, except for the last, the team that won the simulated game went on to win the actual game the next day. In 2004, the Carolina Panthers beat the New England Patriots on the console, but lost the next day to the Pats on the field. The promotion ended when rival game manufacturer EA Sports won the right to make exclusive NFL-themed video games under the Madden name.
NFL trademark issues
The NFL is vigilant on stopping what it says is unauthorized commercial use of its trademarked terms “NFL,” “Super Bowl,” or “Super Sunday”; as a result, many events and promotions timed to the game but not sanctioned by the NFL are forced to refer to it with colloquialisms such as “The Big Game,” or other generic descriptions.[14]
The NFL claims that the use of the phrase “Super Bowl” implies an NFL affiliation, and on this basis the league asserts broad rights to restrict how the game may be shown publicly; for example, the league says Super Bowl showings are prohibited in churches or at other events that “promote a message”; and venues that do not regularly show sporting events cannot show the Super Bowl on any television screen larger than 55 inches.[15] Some critics say the NFL is exaggerating its ownership rights by stating that “any use is prohibited”, as this contradicts the broad doctrine of fair use in the United States.[16]
In 2006, the NFL made an attempt to trademark “The Big Game” as well. However, it withdrew their application in 2007 due to growing commercial opposition to the move, mostly from fans of both Stanford and Cal who compete in The Big Game which concludes their Pac-10 season.[17]
