Super Bowl

Super Bowl
Super Bowl 29 Vince Lombardi trophy at 49ers Family Day 2009.JPG
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is awarded to the Super Bowl winner
First played January 15, 1967
Trophy Vince Lombardi Trophy
Recent and upcoming games
2009 season
Super Bowl XLIV (February 7, 2010)
New Orleans Saints 31. Indianapolis Colts 17
2010 season
Super Bowl XLV (February 6, 2011)
2011 season
Super Bowl XLVI (February 5, 2012)

The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL), the premier association of professional American football. It was first played on January 15, 1967, as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then-rival league, the American Football League (AFL). It was agreed that the two leagues' champion teams would play in an AFL–NFL World Championship Game until the merger was consummated in 1970. After the merger, each league became a "conference", and the game was then played between conference champions. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather than the year in which it is held. For example, Super Bowl I was played in 1967 to determine the championship of the regular season played in 1966, while Super Bowl XLV will be played on February 6, 2011, to determine the champion of the 2010 regular season.

The day on which the Super Bowl is played is now considered a de facto American national holiday,[1][2][3] called "Super Bowl Sunday". It is the second-largest day for U.S. food consumption, after Thanksgiving Day.[4] In most years, the Super Bowl is the most-watched American television broadcast; Super Bowl XLIV, played in February 2010, became the most-watched American television program in history, drawing an average audience of 106.5 million viewers and taking over the spot held for twenty-seven years by the final episode of M*A*S*H.[5] The Super Bowl final is among the most watched sporting events in the world, primarily due to strong North American audiences.

Because of its high viewership, commercial airtime during the Super Bowl broadcast is the most expensive of the year. Due to the high cost of investing in advertising on the Super Bowl, companies regularly develop their most expensive advertisements for this broadcast. As a result, watching and discussing the broadcast's commercials has become a significant aspect of the event. In addition, many popular singers and musicians have performed during the event's pre-game and halftime ceremonies because of the exposure.

Contents

Origin

The Super Bowl was created as part of the merger agreement between the National Football League (NFL) and its competitive rival, the American Football League (AFL). After its inception in 1920, the NFL fended off several rival leagues before the AFL began play in 1960. The intense competitive war for players and fans led to serious merger talks between the two leagues in 1966. According to NFL Films President Steve Sabol, then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle wanted to call the game "The Big One".[6] During the discussions to iron out the details, one of the AFL's founders and Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt had jokingly referred to the proposed inter league championship as the "Super Bowl". [7] Lamar Hunt, who died in December 2006, coined the term in the late 1960s after watching his kids play with a Super Ball, the creation of toy manufacturer Wham-O. The small, round ball is currently on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The name was consistent with post-season college football games, which had long been known as "bowl games". Hunt only meant his suggested name to be a stopgap until a better one could be found; nevertheless, the name "Super Bowl" became permanent. Tickets for the games played in 1967, 1968, and 1969 were printed with the title "World Championship Game"[8]

After the NFL's Green Bay Packers won the first two Super Bowls, some team owners feared for the future of the merger. At the time, many doubted the competitiveness of AFL teams compared with NFL counterparts, though that perception changed with the AFL's New York Jets' defeat of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in Miami. One year later, the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs defeated the NFL's Minnesota Vikings 23–7 and won Super Bowl IV in New Orleans, the final World Championship game played between the champions of the two leagues, as the league merger finally took place later that year.

The game is played annually on a Sunday as the final game of the NFL Playoffs. Originally, the game took place in early to mid-January, following a fourteen-game regular season and playoffs. Over the years, the date of the Super Bowl has progressed from the second Sunday in January, to the third, then the fourth Sunday in January; the game is currently played on the first Sunday in February, given the current seventeen-week (sixteen games and one bye week) regular season and three rounds of playoffs. The progression of the dates of the Super Bowl were caused by several factors: the expansion of the NFL's regular season in 1978 from fourteen games to sixteen; the expansion of the pre-Super Bowl playoff field from eight to twelve teams; the addition of a third round of playoffs (also in 1978); the addition of the regular season bye-week in the 1990s; and the decision to start the regular season the week following Labor Day. Former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle is often considered the mastermind of both the merger and the Super Bowl. His leadership guided the two competitors into the merger agreement and cemented the preeminence of the Super Bowl.

The winning team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the coach of the Green Bay Packers, who won the first two Super Bowl games and three of the five preceding NFL championships in 1961, 1962, and 1965. Following his death in September 1970, the trophy was named the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and was first awarded as such to the Baltimore Colts at Super Bowl V in Miami.

Game history

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowls, while two other teams, the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, have each won five. Fifteen other NFL franchises have won at least one Super Bowl. Only four active NFL franchises, the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans have not appeared in the Super Bowl: The Browns and Lions have both won NFL championships prior to the Super Bowl era, while the Jaguars (who joined the NFL in 1995) and Texans (2002) joined the league after the era began.

1966–1967: Packers early success

The Green Bay Packers won the first two Super Bowls, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders in 1966 and 1967 respectively. The Packers were led by quarterback Bart Starr, who was named MVP for both games. These two championships, along with the Packers' NFL championships in 1961, 1962, and 1965 have led many people to consider the Packers to be the "Team of the '60s". Green Bay is often referred to as "Title Town".

1968–1980 AFL/AFC dominance

In Super Bowl III, behind the quarterbacking of Joe Namath and the leadership of former Colts coach Weeb Ewbank, the New York Jets defeated the eighteen-point favorite Baltimore Colts 16–7. The win helped solidify the AFL as a legitimate contender with the NFL. As it turned out, the 1970s were dominated by the AFC, though four of those wins were by pre-merger NFL teams which had been moved to the AFC. Only one NFC franchise won a Super Bowl during the decade, the Dallas Cowboys.

Perfection

During the 1970s, a majority of the Super Bowls were won by just two teams, the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning a combined six championships in the decade. Miami won Super Bowls VII and VIII. The first of these Super Bowl wins capped the only undefeated and untied season in the history of the NFL at 17-0. The 2007 New England Patriots, who went 16–0 during the regular season, ended up losing Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants. The New England Patriots of that year have had the best season record without winning the title at 18-1. The 1984 49ers and 1985 Bears have also had an 18-1 record, but both teams won the Super Bowl.

The Steelers' dynasty

Pittsburgh won Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV between 1974 and 1980, behind the coaching of Chuck Noll, plays of Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, and Franco Harris, and their "Steel Curtain" defense led by "Mean" Joe Greene and Jack Lambert. The Steelers were the first team to win four Super Bowls and appeared in six AFC Championship Games during the decade, making the playoffs in eight straight seasons. Nine players and three coaches and administrators on the team have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Pittsburgh is also the only team to win back-to-back Super Bowls on two different occasions.

1981–1996: The NFC's winning streak

NFC teams won fifteen of sixteen Super Bowls in this stretch, including a thirteen-win streak from 1984 to 1996.

The 49ers in the 1980s

The most successful franchise of the 1980s was the San Francisco 49ers, who won four Super Bowls in the decade (XVI, XIX, XXIII, and XXIV). They were known for using Bill Walsh's west coast offense. The 1980s also included the 1985 Chicago Bears, who finished the season with an 18–1 record, a feat accomplished the prior year by the 49ers. The Oakland Raiders were the only AFC franchise to win a Super Bowl in the 1980s, winning Super Bowls XV and XVIII. The Washington Redskins won Super Bowls XVII and XXII, while their NFC East rivals, the New York Giants, won Super Bowls XXI and XXV.

The Cowboys in the early 1990s

The Dallas Cowboys became the dominant team in the NFL in the early 1990s. After championships by division rivals New York and Washington to start the decade, the Cowboys won three of the next four Super Bowls. With Super Bowl XXIX, the 49ers became the first team to win five Super Bowls. The Cowboys also won their fifth title (Super Bowl XXX) in the decade and appeared in four NFC championship games as well, winning with both a balanced offense and dominant defense. The 49ers and the Cowboys faced each other in three consecutive NFC championships. As both teams began to lose their dominance late into the decade, another NFC powerhouse, the Green Bay Packers, led by three time MVP quarterback Brett Favre, emerged, winning Super Bowl XXXI following the 1996 season. The early 1990s also featured the Buffalo Bills, who became the only team to date to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls; however, they lost in all four.

1997 onwards: the AFC rises again

In Super Bowl XXXII, quarterback John Elway led the Denver Broncos to an upset victory over the defending champion Packers, snapping the NFC's thirteen-game winning streak, and beginning their own streak, in which the AFC would win nine of the following thirteen Super Bowls. The Broncos would go on to win Super Bowl XXXIII the next year over the Atlanta Falcons, in Elway's final game before retiring. After an NFC win by the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV, the AFC continued its ways, with wins by the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots.

The Patriots dominate the early 2000s

The Patriots became the dominant team throughout the early 2000s, winning the championship in three out of four years early in the decade. In Super Bowl XXXVI, Super Bowl MVP quarterback Tom Brady led his team to a 20–17 upset victory over the Rams. The Patriots also went on to win Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX. They lost Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants in 2008, becoming the only team to finish the season 18–1 and not win the Super Bowl.

The second half of the decade saw parity among both conferences. The AFC recorded wins by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowls XL and XLIII, and the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI, while the Giants and the New Orleans Saints logged wins for the NFC in Super Bowls XLII and XLIV, respectively.

Security

The Super Bowl has been designated a National Special Security Event by the United States Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security every year since Super Bowl XXXVI, which was the first Bowl played following the September 11 attacks. The stadium and surrounding area have faced increased security measures since, especially on game day. Among other things, the once-ubiquitous blimps—four in Super Bowl XIX, according to NFL Films' Steven Sabol—have been grounded.

Television coverage and ratings

For many years, the Super Bowl has had a large television audience in the U.S., and it is often the most watched television program of the year. The game tends to have high Nielsen television ratings, which is usually around a 40 rating and 60 share. This means that on average, 80 to 90 million Americans are tuned into the Super Bowl at any given moment.

A frequently misquoted figure from NFL press releases has led to the common perception that the Super Bowl has an annual global audience of around one billion people.[9][10] In reality, the NFL states one billion as the game's potential worldwide audience, or the number of people able to watch the game.[11] Independent studies suggest that the average global viewership is just over 100 million, the vast majority of whom are U.S. viewers.[9] This is comparable with the final of the European UEFA Champions League,[12][13] making both the most watched annual sporting events. (Although, both the quadrennial Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup exceed this total[14].)

The highest-rated game according to Nielsen was Super Bowl XVI in 1982, which was watched in 49.1 percent of households (73 share), or 40,020,000 households at the time. Ratings for that game, a San Francisco victory over Cincinnati, may have been aided by a large blizzard which had affected much of the northeastern United States on game day, leaving residents to stay at home more than usual. Super Bowl XVI still ranks fourth on Nielsen's list of top-rated programs of all time, and three other Super Bowls, XII, XVII, and XX, made the top ten.[15] 2010's Super Bowl XLIV holds the record for total number of U.S. viewers, attracting an average audience of 106.5 million viewers. Although the proliferation of cable and satellite television has cut broadcast ratings in recent years, the game is still sufficiently popular for networks to consider scheduling original programming during the game, to take advantage of a large audience. Other networks, on the other hand, air reruns or syndicated programming to avoid risking a potentially highly-rated new episode.

Following Apple Computer's 1984 commercial introducing the Macintosh computer, directed by Ridley Scott, the broadcast of the Super Bowl became the premier showcase for high concept and expensive commercials. Famous commercial campaigns include the Budweiser "Bud Bowl" campaign and the 1999 and 2000 dot-com ads. Prices have increased every year, with advertisers paying as much as $3 million for a thirty-second spot during Super Bowl XLIII in 2009. A segment of the audience tunes in to the Super Bowl solely to view commercials.

Super Bowl on TV

Network Number broadcast Years broadcast Future scheduled telecasts
ABC*[›] 7 1985, 1988, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2006
CBS 17 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 2013
Fox 5 1997, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 2011, 2014
NBC 16 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2009 2012

^ *: Not currently broadcasting NFL.

The first Super Bowl was simultaneously broadcast by CBS and NBC, with each network using the same video feed, but providing its own commentary. Super Bowls I–VI were blacked out in the television markets of the host cities, due to league restrictions then in place.

Lead-out programming

The network that airs the Super Bowl typically takes advantage of the large audience to air an episode of a hit series, or to premiere the pilot of a promising new series in the lead-out slot, which immediately follows the Super Bowl and post-game coverage.[16]

Entertainment

“ Initially, it was sort of a novelty and so it didn't quite feel right. But it was just like, this is the year. ... Bands of our generation, you can sort of be seen on a stage like this or, like, not seen. There's not a lot of middle places. It is a tremendous venue. ”

——Bruce Springsteen explaining why he turned down several invitations to play at the Super Bowl before finally agreeing to appear in Super Bowl XLIII.[17]

Early Super Bowls featured a halftime show consisting of marching bands from local colleges or high schools; but as the popularity of the game increased, a trend where popular singers and musicians performed during its pre-game ceremonies and the halftime show, or simply sang the national anthem of the United States, emerged.[18] Unlike regular season or playoff games, thirty minutes are allocated for the Super Bowl halftime.

The first halftime show to have featured only one star performer was Michael Jackson during Super Bowl XXVII in 1993. The NFL specifically went after him to increase viewership and to continue expanding the Super Bowl's reputation.[19] Another notable performance came during Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002, when U2 performed; during their second song, "Where the Streets Have No Name", the band played under a large projection screen which scrolled through names of the victims of the September 11 attacks.

The halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 generated controversy when Justin Timberlake removed a piece of Janet Jackson's top, exposing her right breast with a star-shaped ring around the nipple. Timberlake and Jackson have maintained that the incident was accidental, calling it a "wardrobe malfunction". The game was airing live on CBS, and MTV had produced the halftime show. Immediately after the moment, the footage jump-cut to a wide-angle shot and went to a commercial break; however, video captures of the moment in detail circulated quickly on the internet. The NFL, embarrassed by the incident, permanently banned MTV from conducting future halftime shows. This also led to the FCC tightening controls on indecency and fining CBS and CBS-owned stations a total of $550,000 for the incident. The fine was later reversed in July 2008.

Excluding Super Bowl XXXIX, the famous "I'm going to Disney World!" advertising campaign took place at every Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXI, when quarterback Phil Simms from the New York Giants became the first player to say the tagline. The Walt Disney Company ran the ad several times during the game, showing several players from both teams practicing the catch-phrase.

Venue

Looking toward Ford Field the night of Super Bowl XL.

Twenty-six of forty-four Super Bowls have been played in New Orleans (nine times), the Greater Miami area (ten times), or the Greater Los Angeles area (seven times). The current NFL policy is to hold Super Bowls only in cities which have an NFL franchise.

No team has ever played the Super Bowl in their home stadium. The closest have been the San Francisco 49ers who played Super Bowl XIX in Stanford Stadium, rather than Candlestick Park, and the Los Angeles Rams who played Super Bowl XIV in the Rose Bowl, rather than the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The only other Super Bowl venue which was not the home stadium to an NFL team at the time was Rice Stadium in Houston and the Rose Bowl: the Houston Oilers had played there previously, but moved to the Astrodome several years prior to Super Bowl VIII. The Orange Bowl was the only AFL stadium to host a Super Bowl and the only stadium to host consecutive Super Bowls, hosting Super Bowl II and III.

Traditionally, the NFL does not award Super Bowls to stadiums that are located in climates less than 50°F (10°C) unless the field is completely covered by a fixed or retractable roof. Only three Super Bowls have been played in northern cities: two in the Detroit area—Super Bowl XVI at Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan and Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit—, and one in Minneapolis—Super Bowl XXVI. Super Bowl XLVI will also be played in a northern city, Indianapolis.

On March 5, 2006, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, a "cold weather" city, was awarded the rights to host Super Bowl XLIX in 2015; however, the game was contingent on the successful passage of two sales taxes in Jackson County, Missouri on April 4, 2006. The first tax would have funded improvements to Arrowhead, home of the Chiefs, and neighboring Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball team. The second tax would have allowed the construction of a "rolling roof" between the two stadiums.[20] The second tax failed to pass. With increased opposition by local business leaders and politicians, Kansas City eventually withdrew its request to host the game on May 25, 2006.[21] Before that, Super Bowl XLIV, slated for February 7, 2010, was withdrawn from New York City's proposed West Side Stadium, also to have been a retractable roof facility, because the city, state, and proposed tenants New York Jets could not agree on funding. The game was then awarded to Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Despite not having a retractable roof, the Meadowlands Stadium was chosen for Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, in an apparent waiver of the warm-climate rule.

Selection process

The location of the Super Bowl is chosen by the NFL well in advance, usually three to five years before the game. Cities place bids to host a Super Bowl and are evaluated in terms of stadium renovation and their ability to host.[22] The NFL owners then meet to make a selection on the site. On October 16, 2007, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suggested that a Super Bowl might be played in London, probably at Wembley Stadium.[23] The game has never been played in a region which lacks an NFL franchise; seven Super Bowls have been played in Los Angeles, but none since the Los Angeles Raiders and Los Angeles Rams relocated to Oakland and St. Louis respectively in 1995.

Home team designation

The designated "home team" alternates between the AFC team in even-numbered games and the NFC team in odd-numbered games.[24][25] This alternation was initiated with the first Super Bowl, when the Green Bay Packers of the NFL were the designated home team. Since Super Bowl XIII in January 1979, the home team is given the choice of wearing their colored or white jerseys. Formerly, the designated home team was specified to wear their colored jerseys, which resulted in Dallas donning their less familiar dark blue jerseys for Super Bowl V. Regardless of being the home or away team of record, each team has their team wordmark painted in one of the end zones along with their conference designation.

While most of the home teams in the Super Bowl have chosen to wear their colored jerseys, there have been four exceptions; the Cowboys during Super Bowl XIII and XXVII, the Washington Redskins during Super Bowl XVII, and the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XL. The Cowboys, since 1965, and Redskins, since the arrival of coach Joe Gibbs in 1981, have traditionally worn white jerseys at home. Meanwhile, the Steelers, who have always worn their black jerseys at home since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, opted for the white jerseys after winning three consecutive playoff games on the road, wearing white. The Steelers' decision was compared with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX; the Patriots had worn white jerseys at home during the 1985 season, but after winning road playoff games against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins wearing red jerseys, New England opted to switch to red for the Super Bowl as the designated home team.

Stadiums that have hosted the Super Bowl

Name Location # hosted Years hosted
Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana 7* 1978, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1997, 2002, 2013
Miami Orange Bowl Miami, Florida 5 1968, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1979
Rose Bowl Pasadena, California 5 1977, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1993
Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Dolphin/Sun Life Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida 5 1989, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2010
Tulane Stadium New Orleans, Louisiana 3 1970, 1972, 1975
Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, California 3 1988, 1998, 2003
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, California 2 1967, 1973
Tampa Stadium Tampa, Florida 2 1984, 1991
Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia 2 1994, 2000
Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida 2 2001, 2009
Rice Stadium Houston, Texas 1 1974
Pontiac Silverdome Pontiac, Michigan 1 1982
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, Minnesota 1 1992
Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, Arizona 1 1996
Reliant Stadium Houston, Texas 1 2004
ALLTEL Stadium Jacksonville, Florida 1 2005
Ford Field Detroit, Michigan 1 2006
University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Arizona 1 2008
Stanford Stadium Stanford, California 1 1985
Cowboys Stadium Arlington, Texas 1* 2011
Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana 1* 2012
Meadowlands Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey 1* 2014

italics indicate a now-demolished stadium

"*" indicates hosted + scheduled match

Future Super Bowl host stadiums

The game has never been played in a region which lacked an NFL franchise, though cities without NFL teams are not categorically ineligible to host the event. London, England has occasionally been mentioned as a host city for a Super Bowl in the near future. The most likely venue would be Wembley Stadium, which has hosted several NFL games in the past. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has openly discussed the possibility on different occasions.[26][27][28][29]

Even though the Los Angeles area currently lacks a NFL franchise, the league is considering holding Super Bowl L there to mark the fiftieth Super Bowl, commemorating Super Bowl I which was held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.[29][30] If Los Angeles was to host the game, it could be held at the Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, or a new stadium such as the proposed Los Angeles Stadium in Industry, California.[31] The NFL has not had a franchise in the city since the 1995 season and has not played a Super Bowl in the metropolitan area since 1993.

Cities and regions that have hosted the Super Bowl

Super Bowl is located in the USA
Miami
New Orleans
Los Angeles
Tampa
San Diego
Houston
Detroit
Atlanta
Phoenix
Minneapolis
Jacksonville
SF Bay Area
Arlington/Dallas
Indianapolis
NJ/NY
Super Bowl host cities/regions (Future host regions in italics)
Name # hosted Years hosted
Miami Area 10 1968, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1979, 1989, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2010
New Orleans 9 1970, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1997, 2002
Greater Los Angeles Area 7 1967, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1993
Tampa 4 1984, 1991, 2001, 2009
San Diego 3 1988, 1998, 2003
Houston 2 1974, 2004
Detroit Area 2 1982, 2006
Atlanta 2 1994, 2000
Phoenix area 2 1996, 2008
Minneapolis 1 1992
Jacksonville 1 2005
San Francisco Bay Area 1 1985
Future Super Bowl host cities and regions

Super Bowl trademark

The NFL is vigilant on stopping what it says is unauthorized commercial use of its trademarked terms "NFL", "Super Bowl", and "Super Sunday". As a result, many events and promotions tied to the game, but not sanctioned by the NFL, are forced to refer to it with colloquialisms such as "The Big Game", or other generic descriptions.[32] The NFL claims that the use of the phrase "Super Bowl" implies an NFL affiliation, and on this basis the league asserts broad rights to restrict how the game may be shown publicly; for example, the league says Super Bowl showings are prohibited in churches or at other events that "promote a message", while venues that do not regularly show sporting events cannot show the Super Bowl on any television screen larger than 55 inches.[33] Some critics say the NFL is exaggerating its ownership rights by stating that "any use is prohibited", as this contradicts the broad doctrine of fair use in the United States.[33]

In 2006, the NFL made an attempt to trademark "The Big Game" as well; however, it withdrew the application in 2007 due to growing commercial opposition to the move, mostly from fans of both Stanford and California, who compete in The Big Game, which concludes their Pacific-10 season.[34] Legislation was proposed by Utah Senator Orrin Hatch in 2008 "to provide an exemption from exclusive rights in copyright for certain nonprofit organizations to display live football games," and "for other purposes."[35]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/01/29/super_bowl_underscores_cultural_divide/
  2. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d810f2987&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true
  3. ↑ http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/16865062
  4. ↑ "USDA Offers Food Safety Advice for Your Super Bowl Party". U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_012706_01/index.asp. Retrieved 2007-01-10. 
  5. ↑ "Super Bowl dethrones 'M*A*S*H,' sets all-time record". The Live Feed. February 8, 2010. http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/02/super-bowl-xliv-ratings-.html. 
  6. ↑ Southerland, Edward (2007-02-06). "'The Big One' back again". The Herald Democrat. http://www.heralddemocrat.com/articles/2007/02/06/commentary/comm01.txt. Retrieved 2007-02-07. 
  7. ↑ Huppke, Rex W. (January 30, 2007). "Legends of the Bowl". Chicago Tribune: p. 1. 
  8. ↑ Hoffarth, Rex (2009-02-01). "NBC's Super Bowl history". Los Angeles Newspaper Group. http://insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/2009/02/nbcs-super-bowl.html. Retrieved 2010-02-07. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Rushin, Steve (2006-02-06). "A Billion People Can Be Wrong". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/steve_rushin/02/03/rushin0206/. Retrieved 2007-01-15. 
  10. ↑ Super Bowl XL to Attract Close to 1 Billion Viewers Worldwide, Voice of America, February 3, 2006
  11. ↑ Super Bowl XLI broadcast in 232 countries, NFL press release, February 3, 2007
  12. ↑ "Champions League beats Super Bowl". BBC News. January 31, 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8490351.stm. Retrieved May 24, 2010. 
  13. ↑ http://www.sports-city.org/news_details.php?news_id=8049&idCategory=37
  14. ↑ "TV Data". FIFA. June 10, 2010. http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/marketing/factsfigures/tvdata.html. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  15. ↑ "Television's Top-Rated Programs". Nielsen Media Research. 2000-04-30. http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/recording/tv-toprated.html. Retrieved 2007-01-15. 
  16. ↑ 'Wipeout' special set for Super Sunday
  17. ↑ Fryer, Jenna (2009-01-30). "Bruce Springsteen's Super Bowl Promise: "12-Minute Party" At Halftime". Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/29/bruce-springsteens-super_n_162385.html. Retrieved 2009-02-07. 
  18. ↑ Super Bowl – Entertainment
  19. ↑ Sandomir, Richard (2009-06-29). "How Jackson Redefined the Super Bowl". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/sports/football/30sandomir.html. Retrieved 2010-01-30. 
  20. ↑ "Chiefs sign new lease with Jackson County, team awaits April vote". Kansas City Chiefs. 2006-01-24. http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2006/01/24/chiefs_sign_new_lease_with_jackson_county_team_awaits_april_vote/. Retrieved 2007-01-15. 
  21. ↑ Associated Press (2006-05-25). "No rolling roof, no Super Bowl at Arrowhead". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2458407. Retrieved 2007-01-15. 
  22. ↑ Pedulla, Tom (2003-09-23). "N.Y./N.J. Super Bowl in 2008 may not come to pass". USAToday. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2003-09-22-ny-nj-superbowl_x.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-28. 
  23. ↑ ESPN – Goodell says NFL to look into playing Super Bowl in London – NFL, Associated Press, ESPN, 2007-10-15, accessed 2009-01-26
  24. ↑ "Which jerseys will Bears wear in Super Bowl?". 2007-01-22. http://www.chicagobears.com/news/ChalkTalkStory.asp?story_id=2961. Retrieved 2008-04-12. "The Bears will be designated as the home team ... in Super Bowl XLI in Miami. The home team alternates every Super Bowl with the NFC representative serving as the home team in odd-numbered years and the away team in even-numbered years." 
  25. ↑ "XLII facts about Super Bowl XLII". 2008-01-22. http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story?id=09000d5d8062bc41&template=with-video&confirm=true. Retrieved 2008-04-12. "The AFC is the home team in this year's Super Bowl [Super Bowl XLII]." 
  26. ↑ Associated Press (2009-05-19). "New Orleans to host 10th Super Bowl in 2013". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4180382. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  27. ↑ "NFL in talks on London Super Bowl". BBC Sports. 2009-04-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/american_football/8016358.stm. Retrieved 2009-04-24. 
  28. ↑ ESPN News (2009-05-03). "Report: London eyes Super Bowl". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4130864. Retrieved 2009-05-03. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Marvez, Alex (2009-05-04). "All signs point to Favre returning". Fox Sports. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9535000/All-signs-point-to-Favre-returning. Retrieved 2009-05-04. 
  30. ↑ "L.A. could host Super Bowl in 2016; Tampa in 2014?". NFL.com. 2009-02-03. http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/02/la-could-host-super-bowl-in-16-tampa-in-14/. Retrieved 2009-05-04. 
  31. ↑ Farmer, Sam (2008-11-09). "Team or no team, Los Angeles has a shot at 2016 Super Bowl". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/09/sports/sp-nfllines9. Retrieved 2009-05-04. 
  32. ↑ Gardner, Eriq (2007-01-29). "Super Bowl, Super Trademarks: Protecting the NFL's IP". The Hollywood Reporter, Esq.. http://web.archive.org/web/20070701050745/http://www.hollywoodreporteresq.com/thresq/ip/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003538980. Retrieved 2007-02-04. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Alter, Alexandra (2008-02-02). "God vs. Gridiron". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120190701069036633.html?mod=home_we_banner_left. Retrieved 2008-02-02. 
  34. ↑ FitzGerald, Tom (May 23, 2007). "NFL sidelines its pursuit of Big Game trademark". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/23/SPGUAQ07LN6.DTL. 
  35. ↑ "Church Super Bowl Victory: Senators Hatch & Specter Score Touchdown with NFL Policy". Copyright Queen Blog. 2008-02-22. http://www.copyrightsolver.com/dn2/pt/blog/default.aspx?id=10&t=Church-Super-Bowl-Victory-Senators-Hatc. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 

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