The Super Bowl – A Quick History

It's the most expensive advertising slot on television, and the second biggest day for food consumption after Thanksgiving. It’s when millions of people around the country - and the world - tune in to watch two of the greatest teams go head to head on the football field. It's the Super Bowl, baby! And we're here with a brief history of the big game, along with some tips on the best place to catch it this year.

Origins of the Super Bowl

During the 1960s, the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL) competed against each other for fans, players, and support. In 1966 these gridiron rivals competed against each other in a highly promoted event with a pretty clunky name, the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The owner of the AFL proposed calling it the Super Bowl instead, and the idea caught on fast. In 1967 Super Bowl I took place at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and it was a hit! An agreement was reached between the owners to merge the opposing leagues by 1970, resulting in our modern NFL.

Halftime History

Early Super Bowl Halftime Shows featured local high school or college marching bands in modest performances. As the years went on, the Halftime Show became hugely popular, with big-name musicians taking the stage for elaborate performances. Now, it's a full thirty-minute act, with many people tuning in just for the musical entertainment. Similarly, some of today's viewers watch the big game more for the commercials than the actual football game, and it’s become somewhat of a tradition to watch the high-tech, clever, or impactful ads aired between plays.

Memorable Matches

• Super Bowl XXXIV (Jan. 30, 2000): The St. Louis Rams win the game after stopping the Tennessee Titans at the 1-yard line.
• Super Bowl XLII (2008): The Giants score the winning touchdown with 35 seconds left on the clock and ruin the Patriots’ perfect season.
• Super Bowl LI (2017): Down 25 points, the Patriots came back to win against the Atlanta Falcons in the first overtime of Super Bowl history.

Are you looking to spend this year's super bowl at a top-rated Lawrenceville sports bar? Join us at McCray's Tavern on February 2nd and watch the big game on the big screens!

We’ll have all the fan-favorite foods and plenty of cold drinks to go around. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram or call (770) 407-6754 to make reservations or find out more details!