Come for the game, stay for the show
Holden Kopman, Staff Writer
The Super Bowl is arguably the biggest sporting event of the year, with even those who know nothing about the sport sitting down to watch it. Though the game may be the main attraction for hardcore football fans, the multi-million dollar ads played during intermissions draw the attention of watchers just as much as the game.
Oftentimes, Super Bowl commercials use celebrities to take comedic or eye-opening approaches; for instance, Brian Cranston’s ‘Mountain Dew Shining’, Morgan Freeman and Peter Dinklage’s ‘Doritos vs Mountain Dew’ and Post Malone’s ‘Budweiser Hard Seltzer commercial’. Football can be a stressful experience for people— sometimes their whole day will be watching the game, hoping for their team’s win. The comedy and lightheartedness of the ads bring levity to this rigor.
Though still playing a major role in the entire experience, the pandemic has dramatically affected Super Bowl ads. Well known sponsors, who have different priorities during a pandemic, are charged for lesser known ones who are grabbing at this new opportunity.
Adam Epstein, an entertainment reporter for ‘Quartz’ explains how these ads will be different from what fans remember.
“In a non-pandemic year, Super Bowl ads probably still have enough value for brands to continue paying the cost of them. The game’s audience is that big and that rare. The pandemic, however, has made many big-name advertisers re-evaluate what’s important to them,” Epstein said.
In the past decades, well-known companies such as Coca Cola™, Doritos™ and Tide™ have stolen the Super Bowl ad spotlight, however, many agree now is the time for lesser known companies to have their time to shine. Popular brands have set high standards for Super Bowl ads. Ads from big companies become entire epic stories, intense productions, and include high drama, so many would agree these lesser known brands have large shoes to fill.
Being the main focal point of the show, die hard NFL fans cannot imagine a comparison between ads and the game. NFL teams work hard throughout the season, and share similar goals of getting into the Super Bowl. Especially with the game being the main attraction, the ads would seem only as a side factor or add on. The stakes are high as fans anticipate a great game. As a huge football fan, Adam Silverman (’25) has a lot to say about the game itself.
“I think that the Super Bowl is very exciting because it’s the two best teams in the league of that season competing for the trophy and they give it their all. Personally, I think the game is more exciting especially because I’m an NFL fan and have watched all the games, but the ads are also very enjoyable, ” Silverman said.
It is impossible to tell which of these two must-needs of the show are more vital; the ads allow us to take a break from the show and relax to hard efforted commercials and the game being the centerpoint. As they each have their own beloved moments, we can therefore draw the conclusion that they are equally special.
