Should people watch the Super Bowl for the game or for the advertisements?
The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events of the year. With one of the largest television audiences ever, the 2025 Super Bowl reached 127.7 million viewers. This year, the Seahawks will face off against the Patriots, a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX.
The Super Bowl is the one chance the players have for glory, a chance to cement themselves into a legacy that won’t be forgotten. There is no seven-game series in football; it is win or go home. In recent years, people have begun watching the Super Bowl for the commercials, the halftime show, or many other reasons. However, that opportunity exists only because of the Super Bowl’s immense popularity. The Super Bowl’s viewership does not originate from its advertisements, but from the intense and action-packed football that gives it a platform.
Last year, it cost $7 million to run a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl. The game-day hype of the Super Bowl attracts viewers; people do not tune in simply because ads will be played. Advertisements exist everywhere, not just in the Super Bowl. The ads should be seen as a bonus, a bonus to the intense football that these athletes pour their lives into, in pursuit of victory and legacy.
Football creates lasting legacies, not the commercials. From fantasy football players to college football athletes who wonder if they can ever get a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, fans from all around the world will remember who won Super Bowl LX, just as they remember champions from years past. Being a Super Bowl Champion is part of a legacy that everybody will remember. When people think of Tom Brady, they think of Super Bowls – that is something nobody will take away.
There will be many commercials aired this Sunday, but there will only be one champion. Watch this game and notice the passion that these athletes have, understand that they, too, want the win, not a chance to watch the ads. The football is what the fans should be watching for, the game that cements athletes in history.
For one night, and one night only, simple advertising becomes entertainment during the Super Bowl. This event is more than just a football game; its numerous ad breaks should be regarded as events of their own, as they feature elaborate sets, big budgets and a flood of celebrity cameos. In many ways, these commercials leave a greater cultural impact than the game itself.
Super Bowl advertisements stand out because they spark a shared cultural conversation that extends beyond the sports world. Viewers often discuss the commercials for days afterwards, deciding which ones stood out and which ones fell short. Numerous articles and YouTube video compilations rank each year’s “best of” ads. For something that is not supposed to be the main event,these commercials gain a comparable amount of attention.
Due to the Super Bowl’s high viewership, advertisers invest heavily in high-entertainment value. For anywhere from $8 million to $10 million for 30 seconds of airtime, commercial producers make it count. Instead of dry or conventional advertising, the commercials are often humorous, using emotional storytelling and blockbuster-level production. Many of these ads almost resemble short films, featuring cinematic visuals, unexpected twists and nostalgic themes rarely seen in regular television advertising.
Celebrity cameos play a major role in making the Super Bowl commercials stand out from regular advertising. Due to limited airtime, brands maximize attention by featuring A-list actors, musicians and athletes, adding to the surprise of the commercials and instantly drawing viewers in. Familiar faces add humor, credibility and excitement, often becoming the most memorable part of the ad. These appearances also encourage social media sharing and spark discussion within communities, as audiences react to surprise roles.
Ultimately, because of their unusual intricacy and emotional depth, many viewers tune in to the Super Bowl for the commercials, not the game. While the game lasts only one night, the ads can spark cultural transformations that linger after the final whistle. The ads provoke conversations and memes, while cinematic quality and celebrity appearances make it more than just a commercial, but real entertainment. The experience is also accessible to those who do not follow football, because taking in the ads requires no complicated rules, just simple enjoyment.
These advertisements deliver a lasting cultural impact and enjoyment that transcends the game itself, proving that the ads are the Super Bowl’s main event. This year, focus more on the ads than on the game, since they might be more detailed and impactful than expected. During the Super Bowl, advertising doesn’t just interrupt the entertainment; it is the entertainment.