Some say it was rigged. Others argue the game was won fair and square. A few have gone as far as to say that Usher’s was the worst Halftime Show performance in a decade. This year’s Super Bowl left most fans around the world, including many Barons, disappointed.
Taylor Swift’s role in the Super Bowl’s broadcasting numbers was huge for the NFL this year. Since her first appearance as a spectator at a Kansas City game, her influence on public engagement with football has skyrocketed, and because of her popularity, the 58th Super Bowl had more viewers than any previous game before. Senior Lucas Cheplo gave personal insight on Swift’s influence, “I think it helps the NFL but hurts the NFL fans. It obviously helps expand the NFL to a wider audience, but can be annoying to see how much the NFL incorporates her into their broadcasting of games.” Stella Feldman, a junior, added, “I liked that she was involved originally, [be]cause it was exciting and all, but when every notification I get is giving me updates regarding her every appearance, it becomes a bit excessive.”
This year’s Super Bowl was unique for its one-sided fans. A majority of NFL fans were cheering for the 49ers, as they didn’t want history to repeat itself with another victory from Kansas City. A Vivid Seats report indicated that more than two-thirds of the game’s spectators identified as 49ers fans. Sophomore Donovan Hicks said, “I was rooting for the 49ers, because I simply don’t like Patrick Mahomes.” The popularity of Kansas City players has influenced some NFL fans to root for other teams, relative underdogs to the Chiefs whose record includes four Super Bowl wins, three of which have occurred since 2020 with Mahomes as quarterback. Like Hicks, many students said they were originally rooting for the Ravens but preferred a victory for any team except the Chiefs. Senior Anna Lane commented on how biased the refs were and the overall unfair atmosphere of the game. “The new overtime rules ruined the whole point of the game.”
The halftime show sparked even more controversy. The Superbowl Halftime Show is one of the major entertainment features of the game. Every year, a popular artist puts on their best performance, exciting the audience in the stands, and leaving everyone watching with upbeat energy for the second half. This year, however, there was largely negative talk of Usher’s performance as “too quick” and “boring.” Usher is best known for his songs “Daddy’s Home” ft. Ludacris, “Yeah”, and “DJ’s Got Us Fallin In Love” ft. Pitbull. Lane said, “It was a short performance, and I didn’t like that the stage was so low to the ground. It didn’t feel as special as it had in previous years. The dancing on the field made it seem cheaper, less magical.” Individuals around the world remarked on the lack of fun in his show, as he began with songs many were unfamiliar with, and only quickly danced to Yeah. Despite some disappointment in the performance, others enjoyed Usher’s Halftime Show. Sophomore Lorenzo Loaiza said, “I loved [it]. I think Usher did a great job performing with the short amount of time he was given. Roller skating was my favorite part.”
One positive highlight of the game was the Super Bowl commercials. The advertisements had a wide variety of themes, making them engaging and fun to view. A few commercials that stood out from the rest were the “Cerave” promotion featuring actor Michael Cera, and the Dunkin Ad with Jennifer Lopez, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck promoting new treats.
The game, watched by an average of 123.4 million people in America alone, was the most watched broadcast since the 1969 moon landing. Although opinions on the Super Bowl varied around the world and in the halls of B-CC, most can agree that the 58th Super Bowl was filled with universal fun and good energy.
