It’s that time of the year again! That’s right, the 2016 Super Bowl is right around the corner! It’s a time of excitement and for fanatical football fans to have their eyes glued to a TV screen if they aren’t lucky enough to have tickets to the big game. But what do you do if you’re a little clueless about the big game? Fret not, here is everything you need to know about the Super Bowl 50.
Number One: What is the Super Bowl?
We aren’t judging if you need the answer. The very first Super Bowl was held on January 15, 1967. It was played by the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers beat the Chiefs (the score was 35-10). Today, the Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the history of sports. During this annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), two football teams face off against each another. These teams played and won a series of games in order to get to the big dance.
Only one team can take home the much sought after Vince Lombardi Trophy awarded each year to the winning team. The trophy is named in honor of legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi. It was officially renamed in 1970 in memory of him after his death to commemorate his leading the Green Bay Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowls. Not only is the Super Bowl one of the most watched annual sporting events in the world, it is also one of the largest consumption of food day, after Thanksgiving. Can you say chicken wings!
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Number Two: Where will the Super Bowl be held?
Super Bowl 50 is February 7, 2016 in the City of Santa Clara at Levi’s® Stadium. Levi’s® Stadium is home to the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Levi’s® Stadium is known for being the most high-tech stadium in the world and was officially recognized as Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal in May of 2015.
Number Three: When will the big kickoff start?
The kickoff is where both teams will decide who kicks off the ball to start the game. The kickoff and who will receive the ball is determined by a coin toss. When it’s decided, the kicker from the team kicking off will stand and kick from the 50-yard line. In the NFL, kickers are allowed to use a one-inch tee to make the ball stable as they prepare to start the game. Fans can catch the kickoff of the big game starting at 3:30 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Number Four: Who is the playing the half-time show?
The halftime show (which is a performance by a famous singer or band) will be performed by Cold Play, Bruno Mars, and Beyoncé. Both Bruno Mars and Beyoncé have performed during the Super Bowl halftime show in recent years. Considering how much talent these artists have, they are sure to deliver one amazing half-time. Last year the halftime show was the most watched ever with 118.5 million viewers tuning in. The Super Bowl halftime show has also giving birth to alternative entertainment such as the Lingerie Bowl and the Puppy Bowl to name a few.
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Number Five: Where To Watch The Game
Watching the big game is a big event. While many will gather with a bunch of friends at a local sports bar, most will throw a Super Bowl party in the comforts of their own home. For the serious gambler who can’t actually attend the game in person or for some on looking to party hard, Vegas has become the place to be for the big game. In fact, Super Bowl weekend in Vegas has been deemed Big Game Weekend. The Super Bowl is going to be awesome this year, so check out the full schedule of coverage on the NFL Network to make sure you don’t miss a single moment of action leading up to the big game airing on CBS. If you are in anticipation for the big game, the half-time show, or simply curious as to what the big hype is, tune in to any sports network and start surfing the internet now.
Number Six: Who are the announcers for the game?
The announcers for the Super Bowl are Jim Nantz, who will focus on the play-by-play, and Phil Simms, who will offer analysis. The play-by-play announcers will give commentary on what is happening as the game is played. They will talk about game strategies as well as background information about the players.
Lucky Number Seven: What are the odds your team will win the big game?
Most people are torn. Anyone with a heart is rooting for Peyton Manning. This is probably Peyton’s last game and considering all he has gone through over the last three years of his career, how could you not want this guy to win. After all, he needs to win one so little brother Eli Manning doesn’t end up with more Super Bowl rings. Then there is Cam. Cam Newton is electrifying and no on can argue he has personality. Cam offers older fans a glance at how fun the now “No Fun League” used to be.
At the writing of this post, the NFL betting odds on the big game favor Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, but no one will be surprised if Peyton and the Denver Bronco defense ride out in the sunset with the W.
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Number Eight: Super Bowl Commercials
Two words, “major ads.” During the big game everything is pitched from products to movies and everything in between. These commercials feature everything and everyone from big stars to cute animals. Super Bowl ads are expensive. It’s one of the biggest platforms for a brand to gain exposure with over 110 million people in the United States estimated to watch. And of course with that many eyes available, it costs some major money. The average cost for a Super Bowl ad is $5 million for 30 seconds of airtime.
With all of this info in your back packet, you’re set for the big game. Be sure to catch the game on February 7, 2016, on CBS, and get ready to cheer for your favorite team.
