The Superbowl is arguably the world’s most popular sporting event. It continuously draws in a significant number of fans from around the world and widespread publicity that few other events can attract from various suitors, which has now reached unprecedented levels of interest from worldwide fans.
The Superbowl game was soon established after the merger between the rival football leagues in the NFL and AFL. It pits the best franchises from each conference against each other to decide who can claim the prestigious Vince Lombardi trophy and take home the mantle as the sport’s world champions.
Many iconic and memorable moments have been carved throughout the game’s history, with some of the sport’s most distinguished franchises taking center stage as they aim to claim the sport’s most fabulous prize and potentially become a dynasty in the making.
The Superbowl is known for its action-packed and high-stakes encounters on the field and its fantastic entertainment and halftime show performances by a selected guest star artist.
All these factors and continued media coverage have allowed the Superbowl to become the nation’s most beloved sporting event of the calendar year and gain further traction amongst international audiences as a major draw for fans and future engagement from various publications and broadcasting giants.
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How popular is the Super Bowl in foreign countries?
There are many ways that fans both in the US and abroad can get involved with the action ahead of Superbowl LIX weekend, which is veering ever closer, with many adult fans already placing their bets into play by checking out all the latest Superbowl odds that are now available on DraftKings.
Sports betting has quickly become a significant part of the action for Superbowl weekend as even sports fans who are not overly interested in the NFL will bet on the big game, with other audiences often tuning in for the halftime show and other entertainment acts that can make up for a life-changing fan experience.
When it comes to assessing the overall figures as to how many international audiences tune into the Superbowl, last year’s overtime-clinching matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers saw an increase of 10% of global fans that tuned into the game between the two storied franchises as superstar QB Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to their third Superbowl win in just five years.
According to the NFL, 62.5 million international viewers were recorded to have watched the matchup, which included 24.1 million viewers from Mexico, 18.8 million from Canada, and across the pond in European countries such as Germany (3.8 million) and the United Kingdom (3.7 million) also racked up significant figures of international attention for the big game.
While the Superbowl has remained a significant part of sports coverage in European countries, the NFL has also helped increase the overall fan investment in the sport itself by allowing foreign venues to host NFL games every year, which includes games being previously played in London, Frankfurt, Munich and now Berlin.
With NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell now pushing to have more significant cities from foreign countries host NFL games in the upcoming years, there will undoubtedly be a continued increase in interest directed towards the Superbowl, which will only see global numbers progress at a steady but noticeable rate.
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How does the NFL help make the Super Bowl more marketable and viewable for worldwide audiences?
Consumer interest in the big game comes in all forms of media and various sponsorship packages, from announcing who will be the starring artist for the halftime show to the commercials heavily featured on the broadcast.
The Superbowl is a game made for TV audiences as many commercials are aired, instantly attracting audiences to tune into the broadcast. Many film producers also release official announcement trailers for their latest films that are available for all prime-time audiences to witness.
The presence of celebrities and athletes from other sports making various appearances during the broadcast helps to stir further the interest and overall hype surrounding the game, making this marketing ploy a key strategy for the game’s increase in viewership.
While many sports fans will care more about the action on the field, they will also be well aware that the NFL is a business first and foremost, meaning that the league will do everything in its power to present other marketable aspects that attract viewers that may not have a prior interest in football.
The unpredictable appearances of famous faces on TV during the big game keep fans engaged and guessing who will likely show up on their screens next. This is integral to maintaining audience interest, especially for international viewers.
