Super Bowl Wrap-Up: Was It Worth It?
The final game of the NFL postseason has been played and the final whistle has blown on another football season. Football fans wait all year to watch “The Big Game.” Big screen TVs fly off the shelves, even in a struggling economy. Companies pay millions of dollars to advertise for ten, twenty, or thirty seconds at a time. Fans of all teams choose sides and until the clock runs out, it’s anyone’s game. Without a doubt, the Super Bowl is an event of epic proportion each year. But did Super Bowl XLIII live up to the hype of other years? Was America on the edge of their seat or asleep on the couch?
I believe that the condition of the Unite States, especially the economy, played a negative role in the acceptance and publicity of the Super Bowl this year. Most people, especially die hard football fans, will not admit that this year was different than others but there were a few obvious signs pointing to a lack of momentum and interest in football’s biggest event.
1. Pre-Super Bowl Hype – The hype and energy that is normally associated with the two weeks leading up the Super Bowl really didn’t exist this year. Instead, the Super Bowl hype was replaced with stories of the failing economy, the actions taken by newly elected President Obama, and the analysis of where America “goes from here.” Unless you are an avid watcher of a sports show or channel, you probably didn’t encounter too much talk about the Super Bowl. Simply put, there were more important things to discuss.
2. Commercials – Frankly, the commercials during the Super Bowl this year were weak. Even the eTrade baby commercials were a little on the dull side. I also tie this to America’s unsure stage and unstable economy. Think about it – Super Bowl commercials are the mother load. Yes, companies are gaining a ton of exposure but are also paying an arm and a leg for a few seconds of air time. When companies are shelling out the the big money solely for a spot during the commercial lineup, they may not have the resources to pay quality writers, brainstormers, and actors. The company that may have made out the best was Miller. Their commercial was only one second long and it is probably garnering the most attention because it was out of the ordinary. During tough times, companies need to think outside of the box and most companies came up short during the Super Bowl this year.
3. Glit and Glamour Post Game – Attempting not to pass any judgements because of the victors of Super Bowl XLIII but I didn’t think that the post game show was as flashy as it normally would be. Yes, the same elements existed (confetti, merchandise, interviews, etc.) but for some reason, it just didn’t feel like it normally does during the presentation ceremony. The NFL did cut over 100 jobs during the regular season in order to feel less of an impact from a spiraling economy so the toned down Super Bowl post-game may have been another contributing factor to cut costs. For whatever reason, the post game and presentation ceremony wasn’t like it has been in the past.
I believe that the 2010 Super Bowl will be a critical event for the NFL. The next “Big Game” could make or break how America and the rest of the world view football. There will always be your devoted football fans who will watch the game no matter what but as far as neutral viewers are concerned, the NFL could be in trouble with losing viewers. Super Bowl XLIII may not have been the greatest game with the best commercials but hopefully the NFL notices the problems and where they occurred to make next year even better.
I loved the etrade baby, but I understand. I think depending on where you as a fan determines if this Super Bowl was super or just a big deal. For instance, I’m sure Pittsburgh and Arizona were crazy places to be yesterday. But for Baltimore? Everyone was literally just drawing straws, hoping for the underdog to win. I think the game tends to lose its luster when such a thing happens. I know for me it does.