New Orleans has hosted the joint most Super Bowls in the history of the NFL. The Louisiana city has hosted the showpiece event on eleven occasions, most recently when it welcomed fans from around the world at the Super Bowl in 2025. The history of the Super Bowl The first four editions of the Super Bowl, contested from 1967 to 1970, were played between the champions of the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). The rival leagues merged ahead of the 1970 season, making Super Bowl V in 1971 the first championship game in the modern era of the NFL – Super Bowl LIV in 2020 was the 50th as a united league. The Super Bowl trophy was renamed the Vince Lombardi Trophy ahead of Super Bowl V in honor of the former Green Bay Packers coach who passed away at the start of that season – Lombardi led the Packers to two of their four Super Bowl wins.

The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world, regularly attracting more than 70 thousand fans to the live event. The highest attendance figures are often associated with games that feature popular teams, exciting matchups, or other special circumstances such as the large seating capacity of the stadium within which the games are hosted. The 2025 Super Bowl, which was hosted at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, had an attendance of 65,719 fans. This game saw the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs to claim their second Super Bowl title. Overall, the Super Bowl attendance figures demonstrate the popularity and enduring appeal of American football as a major sport and cultural event in the United States. Popularity of the Super Bowl The Super Bowl's popularity is undeniable, with the annual championship game of the National Football League being one of the biggest single-day sports events in the world. Each year, the champions of the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference compete against each other, drawing high television ratings. The 2024 Super Bowl set a record-breaking average TV audience of over 123 million viewers in the United States. Super Bowl spending The Super Bowl generates millions of dollars in advertising revenue for the NFL, with the advertising revenue from the 2024 Super Bowl standing at a record 650 million U.S. dollars. A 30-second ad spot during the Super Bowl broadcast cost an average of eight million U.S. dollars in 2024. The big game also leads to significant consumer spending, with Super Bowl-related consumer spending in the U.S. estimated to have stood at about 17.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. The average American consumer planned to spend over 86 U.S. dollars on Super Bowl Sunday, with expenditures on food and beverages, televisions, furniture, team apparel and accessories, and decorations.

Sports franchises have recently experienced dynamic shifts, driven by record-breaking viewership and burgeoning economic impacts. Super Bowl LVIII marked a significant milestone, amassing a staggering 123.4 million viewers and boosting Las Vegas's economy by approximately $1 billion. This surge underscores the magnetic allure of high-stakes sports events. However, alongside these successes, challenges have emerged, such as rising ticket prices and shifts in consumer engagement. As franchises navigate a landscape defined by evolving fan expectations, technological advancements, and expanded streaming capabilities, they must also grapple with regulatory challenges like the DOJ's antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment. The coming years may require adaptability and strategic rethinking, as franchises strive to sustain profitability and fan loyalty. Revenue has expanded at a CAGR of 7.6% to a total of $46.7 billion in 2025, with a moderate growth of 0.9% that year. Over the past few years, US sports franchises have seen significant transformation, fueled by modernization efforts and strategic partnerships. Teams have invested heavily in new and refurbished stadiums, prioritizing state-of-the-art facilities that focus on premium experiences instead of simply maximizing capacity. This trend is reflected in projects like the Los Angeles Clippers' Intuit Dome and the upcoming Buffalo Bills stadium, which emphasize sustainability and luxury amenities. Streaming services have revolutionized sports broadcasting, broadening global access to events and fostering unprecedented fan engagement. Despite challenges, such as escalating ticket prices affecting attendance, strategic modernization and digital engagement have largely bolstered profits for sports franchises. Sports franchises will focus on elevating fan experiences through innovative stadium designs that blend luxury with sustainability initiatives. As streaming platforms continue to expand their sports content offerings, franchises should explore deeper collaborations to enhance global visibility and reach. Regulatory developments, such as the potential outcomes of the DOJ lawsuit against Live Nation, could reshape the ticketing landscape, necessitating agility and new strategies. The expansion of sports betting promises continued revenue growth, although ethical considerations around AI-enhanced gambling warrant careful monitoring. Maintaining a balance between exclusivity and accessibility will be crucial as franchises strive to capture diverse audiences and secure long-term success in a competitive and evolving environment. With these factors in play, revenue is projected to grow at a CAGR of 1.3% through 2030, reaching $49.8 billion.