Super Bowl LVIII Fever Grips America
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The countdown to Super Bowl LVIII — the National Football League's championship game — has begun. On February 11, 2024, a record 200 million American adults are expected to tune in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers compete for the Vince Lombardi trophy. The championship game, the fifth one for the Chiefs and the seventh for the 49ers, certainly promises to be exciting. But Super Bowl Sunday is about more than just football.
Some watch the game for the halftime show, which will be headlined by American singer and songwriter Usher this year. Others enjoy the hilarious commercials companies create for the big day. Taylor Swift fans will be there just to catch flashes of the pop superstar cheering for the Chiefs.
Regardless of the reason, Super Bowl Sunday is a great excuse to get together with family and friends. The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that 112.2 million people will host or attend a party this year. An additional 16.2 million will watch the game at a bar or restaurant.
Since parties and food go hand-in-hand, it is not surprising that Super Bowl Sunday is one of America's biggest food consumption days. It is second only to Thanksgiving! The NRF estimates an astounding $17.3 billion, or $86.04 per person, will be spent on Super Bowl Sunday in 2024. Eighty percent of that will go toward buying food and beverages.
In past years, Americans have munched their way through 112 million pounds of snacks before the game begins. Tortilla chips, potato chips, and pretzels top the list of favorites. During the game, partygoers turn to heartier fare like pizza. Domino's and Pizza Hut typically sell over three million pies collectively on this day.
Chicken wings are also extremely popular. The National Chicken Council estimates that Americans will eat 1.45 billion wings — enough to circle the Earth's circumference three times — on February 11. Other favorites include ribs, bacon, hamburgers, foot-long subs, and hot dogs. The food will be washed down with millions of gallons of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The excessive eating and drinking has consequences. Over 18 million people skip work on the Monday after the "Big Game." This results in about a $4 billion loss in productivity. There have been over two dozen petitions to make what is often called "Super Sick Monday" a national holiday. Unfortunately, none have succeeded.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Go Chiefs! Go 49ers!
Resources: CNN.com, NRF.com, CNBC.com
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91 Comments
- cooperbrooks21 daysnfl is the best
- bcesarabout 2 monthsNFL NFL!!!!!!! is the best
- ingojones6 monthsYour right parkerk2444
- 0happy07 monthsChiefs won yayy
- parkerk24447 monthsI think Taylor should have done a half time show.
- damoney2 monthsI think Ushers performance was amazing!
- skankhunt428 monthsThat should have been the lions
- damoney2 monthsye I know
- 29zabraham8 monthsIf it weren’t for the 4th down failures
- basketball11139 monthsI wish noter dame could have made it
- fr-its-kady9 monthsi 💖 kc i am so glad are football team won!!!
- evelynn_lia_luv9 monthsBack to back super bowl champs!!!!!!! 💓💛 go Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes!!!!!!!!! Go Jason Kelce!!!!!! Halftime show tho BORING why did it have to be usher?? Should've been Taylor Swift.....
- ferndeafgal9 monthsThe halftime show was not boring! Usher was amazing! He was way better than Rihanna or the performers before her!
- swifty189 monthsi love the chiefs lets go