The Superbowl is as big as it gets. It’s the most anticipated event in American sports, hands down. The two best teams face off in the country’s most popular sport, drawing in huge crowds.
123.7 million people tuned into the big game last February. To put that into perspective, that’s more than the population of Mexico.
It’s treated like a holiday. Food, commercials, performances, competition, what’s not to love?
The Superbowl is treated how Memorial or Labor Day are, with sales, commercials, and promotions. Businesses use the big game for leverage as much as possible, as they know how big of an event it is.
I love the Super Bowl. The day is magical in my opinion and treated like so in my home. I’ve always said it is a top five day of the year.
Superbowl Sunday is a day that is marked on football fans’ calendars everywhere. Even if your team isn’t in it, the day is still insanely special. It’s the Christmas morning of sports. And if your team is in it? Even more so.
The day is just as special for non-football fans as well. It’s more than a game, it’s a spectacle. The commercials during the game are wildly entertaining and keep people laughing for 4 quarters. The midway point of the game is filled with catchy tunes and eye-catching performances. And this is all while stuffing your face with classic game day food.
Each year, the Superbowl is held in one of the largest American cities at the most popular venues. Cities proposing to host the event is almost as competitive as the game itself. The host city can expect a jump in revenue anywhere between $230 and $480 million dollars around the time of the big game.
As much as the fans love the Superbowl, so does the host city. The game does wonders for the local community.
With that being said, what if the Superbowl was hosted elsewhere? Well, that hypothetical may become a reality.
Earlier this month, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the Superbowl being played overseas is a possibility. While doing press for the NFL London games, Goodell dropped this groundbreaking news. Previously, Goodell said this would not happen, but now he is saying it is a possibility, and that he would not be surprised if it did happen.
Another thing Goodell said while talking to fans in London was that he wouldn’t be surprised if there were 16 games played in London in a single season. This would be if the NFL season expanded to 18 regular season games. Goodell also spoke on how the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have played games in London for 10 seasons straight now, may play even more home games across the pond as their stadium in Jacksonville is being renovated.
The NFL is working hard to expand the game and grow the popularity of the league globally, and it seems the Superbowl going overseas is a part of that plan.
The Superbowl being hosted overseas is a horrible idea. It is a complete slap in the face to NFL fans in America and the cities that have NFL franchises.
“We’ve always traditionally tried to play a Super Bowl in an NFL city — that was always sort of a reward for the cities that have NFL franchises…” says Goodell in a 2024 Associated Press article.
Like I mentioned before, the Superbowl brings in a ton of revenue for the host city. The amount of business opportunities and revenue generated in an area when the big game is played there is massive. What the NFL once viewed as a reward, may be no longer.
It’s not just the money that makes the Superbowl special, it’s the passion for the game as well. The fandom that surrounds the big game is like no other. The sport itself brings people together. The season is long and filled with emotions. The final week is a celebration of those who cared all year. Those who dedicated time and money from August to February and all offseason long. It’s even more important if your team made it.
The gritty game that was formed in the United States and transformed into an American holiday, may be having its biggest event leave us in the future.
The possibility of the Superbowl being hosted overseas is unsettling and upsetting. The amount of uproar that would occur if this possibility turned into reality would be off the charts.
Look, I am all for growing the game. Having fans scattered across the globe is great. There should be no borders for fandom and where football is played and loved. However, I feel that hosting a Superbowl overseas is a bit disrespectful to some.
Starting with the players. The players have complained about playing in different countries. For example, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith openly admitted they were not looking forward to their game in Brazil in week 1 this year. They expressed concerns for their safety and said they just wanted to play football. Other players over the years have complained about the traveling. It’s already grueling enough to fly far, enter different time zones, play a game, and head back. Now these guys are doing so while being overseas.
Another thing worth noting is that players have to buy tickets for their friends and family during NFL playoff games. Now not only will players be buying Superbowl tickets, but also paying for travel fees.
It’s disrespectful to the cities with NFL franchises. Every year they have only a chance at any opportunity to host the big game. They compete against 31 other franchises for rights to host the Superbowl, and now they must compete with other countries who are eager to put together enormous pitches to get the game on their home turf. Hosting the game is a reward for the cities with teams. Cities, and the businesses within, will be missing out on revenue and publicity.
It’s disrespectful to the fans who have cared all season long. To those who have been fans for years, some since they were born. To the people that have waited their entire lives for their team to be in the Superbowl. It’s already hard enough for fans of the teams in the Superbowl to get tickets to the game, now mix in the fact that it could go overseas.
The NFL seems to push their international agenda very hard, even at the cost of their players safety, travel woes, and terrible games.
We have heard from players who were scared to go to Brazil. Many players who travel to the London and Germany games are ached by jetlag and different facilities. Each year we watch some of the worst matchups at 9:00 A.M. in London. People seem to have issues with the international games now, so why the Superbowl?
Sure, it’s important to grow the game. I’m sure the money offered by foreign cities to host a Superbowl would be astronomical. But is it worth it? I’d consider Roger Goodell and the NFL to be sellouts if this took place.
Now, what are the odds this actually happens?
I’m not sure. I doubt it will happen. Outcries enough would most likely get this play overturned.
Either way, it’s a bad idea.
