Super Bowl Sunday, an Unofficial National Holiday

Super Bowl Sunday is the national holiday that does not come with a day off and even though many are working from home more than 17 million people will miss work on Monday, some taking the day off while others will call in sick.

Let’s be honest if anyone calls in sick these days their employer is probably not going to question them anyway.  Super Bowl LV (that’s 55) matches the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who become the first team in the history of the game to play in their home stadium.

Even with a pandemic this game is always a big one although it’s truly special when a local team (Giants, Eagles or Jets) plays in it. Many are just happy that the Patriots are not although Tom Brady is for the tenth time in his amazing career.

Only 22,500 fans will be inside Raymond James Stadium and 7,500 of them are vaccinated health care workers who received free tickets. With such a limited number of tickets available it’s not surprising that the average price on the resale market is $13,500, 61% higher than last year according to WalletHub.

Despite warnings that we should not gather for house parties many will although the size of them is likely to be smaller than in the past.  A food favorite remains chicken wings with 1.4 billion to be eaten and I will account for part of that total.  Pizza is another popular choice with a 50% increase in orders compared to a regular Sunday.  It will all be washed down with nearly 52 million cases of beer sold, a 90% increase from an average day.

Many will also pay attention to the commercials which cost an average of $5.5 million for a 30-second ad and for the first time in 37 years will not include Budweiser as they join Coke, Hyundai and Pepsi on the sidelines.  Nearly 1-in-4 viewers say the commercials are their favorite part of the game although only 10% of consumers remember the average ad and know the brand being advertised.

As for the game it is a fascinating match-up between Brady, the 43-year old GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) and the NFL’s brightest star in 25-year old Patrick Mahomes.  The Chiefs are a 3 ½ point favorite and while my head says they are the choice my heart says how about one more for the old guy.

I’ll take Brady and the Bucs 31-27 although the only guarantee is that I will be at work on Monday and will be very tired.