Topics: Super Bowl, NFL, Sport, Money, Celebrity, Film and TV
The 2024 Super Bowl is finally here tonight, and football fans are already waiting patiently on the edge of their seats.
This annual sporting celebration will see the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers battle it out at Nevada's Allegiant Stadium on Sunday (February 11) as each team hopes to be crowned the LVIII (58th) victors.
The NFL championship final usually attracts an average of 70,000 live spectators, which - combined with the number of viewers watching from the comfort of their living rooms - makes it the most-watched sports event worldwide.
But what makes the Super Bowl so special?
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It's not just the high-drama, super-intense football game that draws millions of audience members yearly.
It's the fact that in addition to being a 'front-row' seat to the sporting showdown to end all showdowns, it's an A-list social scene for the biggest celebs from the furthest corners of the earth.
Last year's game saw multi-award-winning musicians Adele, Jay-Z, Jordin Sparks, and Paul McCartney rock up to take their seats, as well as globally renowned chef Gordon Ramsay and Hollywood superstars Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper.
While it remains to be seen who shows up, one huge possibility could be Taylor Swift, who has been making regular appearances at games in support of her beau, Travis Kelce.
However, her tour schedule could make it difficult - so watch this 'Blank Space'.
On top of the multitude of high-profile celebrities, there is, of course, the annual half-time performance.
You might remember, the 2023 performance saw 'Umbrella' singer Rihanna perform a medley of her greatest hits before shocking everyone by revealing her blossoming baby bump.
Well, this year Usher will be taking the stage and is promising 'a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from him before'.
With that in mind, is it any surprise that average tickets to this stellar show cost nearly $11,000?
It's true - with the game's rise in popularity continuing to extend beyond just NFL fans and this year's competing teams being hugely entertaining to watch, ticket sales are sky-rocketing.
StubHub also showed a range of ticket prices ranging from $5,000 to nearly $89,000.
According to Business Insider, the Super Bowl's choice of location this year - Las Vegas - is another factor which has led to a surge in 2024 ticket prices.
Jesse Lawrence from TicketIQ told the outlet that 'both games in Detroit' had been the most expensive 'wild card and divisional game' they'd ever seen.
Adding: "Both conference championship games were both in the top 3 all-time."
Then there's the 'funflation factor'.
This factor sees American consumers continuing to spent pretty pennies on experiences that will take their most off the state of the US economy, potential recession and inflation.
Throw the celeb-spotting into the mix as well, and the Super Bowl could become a recipe for phenomenal monetary demand.
