This Sunday, February 8, Levi‘s Stadium in Santa Clara will host Super Bowl 60where the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will compete for the NFL title before a global audience of more than 120 million people.
The game, which brings daily life in the United States to a standstill and draws fans worldwide, is characterized by its blend of spectacle, competition, and record-breaking figures.
In the United States, the Super Bowl is the end of the sport most deeply rooted in its culture and the year’s most important sporting event. For many fans around the world, the game is an awe-inspiring spectacle, although not everyone fully understands its rules and dynamics.
The field, the structure, and the duration of the match
Professional American football is played on to field 120 yards long (109.73 meters) and 53.3 yards wide (48.74 meters). The field, divided in half by the 50-yard line, has 10-yard end zones at each endwhere the central part of the game is played. At each end are Y-shaped tubular structures, with posts spaced 5.64 meters apart, which serve as targets for kicking plays.
The official match last 60 minutesdivided into four 15-minute quarters. However, the number of stoppages and reviews can extend the experience to more than three hours. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, overtime is played, with both teams receiving one offensive opportunity; If the score remains tied, the match is decided by sudden death.
The Quarterback
Also known as the quarterback in some Latin American countries, the quarterback occupies the central role in American football. He is responsible for leading the offensecommunicating plays directly with the coach, and making key decisions on every offensive play. From his position, he decides whether to throw the ball into the air or hand it off to a running back to advance the field, becoming the team’s primary strategic asset.
How to score points
Each team has a roster of 53 players, but only 11 are on the field at any one time. The formations are divided into offense, defense, and special teams. The primary objective of the offense is to advance the oval ball and cross the opposing team’s end zone.
To do this, they are given four downs to advance at least 10 yards. If the offense achieves this, they receive four additional downs. If they fail to do so, they typically kick the ball out of play.
The touchdown is the most coveted play, awarding 6 points, and is achieved by carrying the ball into the end zone, either by running or catching a pass. After a touchdown, the team can add an extra point with a successful kick between the uprights or attempt to carry the ball into the end zone again for two additional points.
Another way to score points is with a field goal, which is worth 3 points and is kicked from the field. The NFL record distance is 64 yards. There is also a play called safetywhich awards two points to the defense if they tackle an opponent in their own end zone.
Runners and receivers
In the offensive scheme, wide receivers and running backs play fundamental roles. Wide receivers spread out across the field to catch passes from the quarterback and advance into opposing territory. Running backs, on the other hand, take the ball directly from the quarterback and try to outrun the opposing defense to gain yards and get closer to the end zone.
League structure and historical background
The National Football League (NFL) you have 32 teamsdivided into the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC)with 16 teams in each conference. The champions of each conference qualify directly for the Super Bowl. This season, the Patriots secured their spot by defeating the Denver Broncos 10-7, while the Seahawks earned their berth by beating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27.
The first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967with the Green Bay Packers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs. The trophy awarded to the champion is named after Vince Lombardithe coach who led the Packers to their first championships. The Patriots are looking to surpass the Pittsburgh Steelers as the most successful team in history, with six titles each. In contrast, the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars have never played in a Super Bowl.
Among the featured players is Tom Bradywho have you seven Super Bowl victoriessix with the Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The most-watched Super Bowl to date was last year’s edition, in which The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22with an audience of 128 million viewers.
Ticket sales, figures, and commercial appeal
The demand for Super Bowl tickets typically drives up prices in both the primary and secondary markets. According to data compiled by Bloombergtickets for Super Bowl LX are starting at $5,500 and reaching $50,000 for VIP sections. On official digital platforms, the average price hovers around $8,200reflecting a steady increase from the $12 price tag of the first Super Bowl in 1967.
The event is also notable for the cost of advertising space. This year, the average price of a 30-second ad is around $8 million, although NBC you have sold spots for as much as $10 million, according to Mark Marshall, NBCUniversal‘s global advertising director.
Technology, pharmaceutical, and wellness companies are leading the advertising investment, while nearly 40% of the brands advertising this year were not present last year.
Beyond sports: entertainment, advertising, and pop culture
The Super Bowl has established itself not only as a decisive game but also as a cultural spectacle featuring the popular halftime show, this year headlined by Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny. Major brands launched their commercials early on social mediacapitalizing on the global anticipation.
Recent history adds spice to the rivalry between the patriots and Seahawkswho already faced off in the 2015 Super Bowlremembered for a decisive defensive play at the last yard line. This game at Levi’s Stadium promises to reignite that rivalry, while millions follow every play and every commercial break with rapt attention.
