50 Mind-Blowing Super Bowl Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

Mark Roberts, a notorious streaker, was sponsored by GoldenPalace.com to streak during Super Bowl 38. He received a payment of $1 million, front-row tickets on the 50-yard line, and the services of a top defense attorney who managed to reduce his charges to a misdemeanor, along with a $1,000 fine.

27. The NFL attempted to sue rapper M.I.A. for 100% of her lifetime earnings (should she ever exceed $2 million) after she flipped a middle finger during the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show.

28. Arizona lost its chance to host the 1990 Super Bowl after its voters refused to make MLK Jr. Day a state holiday.

29. During her Super Bowl halftime performance, Diana Ross concluded her final number by boarding a helicopter that landed in the middle of the field. As she sang "Take me higher, I will survive," she soared out of the stadium, leaving a lasting impression.

30. The U.S. Air Force sponsors military flyovers during sporting events to inspire future generations, with funding allocated from their training budget. Despite the closed roof, the Air Force conducted a flyover at the 2011 Super Bowl.

In 2018, Bob Costas was ousted from his Super Bowl spot and terminated by NBC after he presented a monologue highlighting the hazards of concussions during the Super Bowl.

32. Only 1% of the tickets for Super Bowl XLVIII were available to the general public, with the NFL allocating the remaining 99% to teams, broadcast networks, corporate sponsors, and other entities. When a fan filed a lawsuit, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the NFL's ticket distribution policies did not violate any state consumer protection laws.

33. The crowd during the Super Bowl halftime show does not hold tickets to the game, and performers receive no compensation. The NFL justifies this lack of payment by suggesting that performers will recoup their earnings through download revenue.

34. In recent years, concurrent with the NFL's Super Bowl, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, has hosted the "Otter Bowl," featuring otters playing with footballs made from frozen clams.

35. Despite the belief in "Super Bowl babies"-a perceived increase in births nine months after a local football team's Super Bowl victory-a study revealed that Super Bowl outcomes did not significantly impact birth rates in the teams' home counties or states.

The period around the Super Bowl sees heightened occurrences of sex trafficking.

37. Dispelling a common myth, there is no substantial evidence to suggest that incidents of violence against women increase on Super Bowl Sunday.

38. The Super Bowl can generate economic impacts ranging from $230 million to $475 million for host cities.

39. There is a significant surge in the number of traffic accidents on Super Bowl Sunday.

40. Domino's sold as many pizzas during O.J. Simpson's car chase as it did on Super Bowl Sunday.

There's a peculiar game where participants actively strive to avoid learning the results of the Super Bowl for as long as possible. Remarkably, one player claims to remain unaware of the outcome of the 2012 game.

42. Following a city's loss in the Super Bowl, there's a notable increase in cardiovascular deaths and overall mortality rates attributed to stress.

43. The longstanding "Cola War" between Pepsi and Coca-Cola, dating back to the 1970s, reached a climax during Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, where Coca-Cola's headquarters are located. Pepsi, one of the primary sponsors, launched a campaign with the slogan "Hey Atlanta, Thanks for Hosting. We'll Bring the Drinks."

44. A North Carolina resident possesses the sole known recording of Super Bowl I, as neither CBS nor NBC preserved it. Despite offering $1 million for the footage, the NFL countered with $30,000 and later declined to purchase it altogether. However, they warned the owner of potential legal repercussions should he sell it to another party.

45. Americans consume a staggering 1.35 billion chicken wings during Super Bowl weekend.

Super Bowl referees are also recipients of Super Bowl rings.

47. In 1997, Green Bay Packers player Reggie White starred in a film alongside Pat Morita titled "Reggie's Prayer," portraying a retired football player who never achieved a Super Bowl victory. Notably, cameo appearances included Brett Favre, Mike Holmgren, The Big Show, and MC Hammer. Coincidentally, the Packers secured a Super Bowl win just two days after the movie's release.

48. Super Bowl III in 1969 featured a mere five commercials. Fast forward to 2022's Super Bowl LVI, where a staggering 80 commercials were aired.

49. Apple's iconic 1984 commercial, renowned for its groundbreaking impact, was broadcast only twice-once locally in Idaho and once during the Super Bowl.

50. In 2014, amidst the Super Bowl and Puppy Bowl broadcasts, Nat Geo Wild introduced the "Fish Bowl," a four-hour segment featuring a goldfish swimming in a bowl.