Get Ready for the Big Game with These Fun Stats

With Super Bowl LVIII just days away, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its Super Bowl LVIII By The Numbers infographic together with its report on 2024’s Best & Worst Cities for Football Fans, as well as expert commentary.

To determine the best places for enjoying America’s favorite sport, WalletHub compared more than 240 U.S. cities with at least one college or professional football team based on 21 key metrics. The data set ranges from the number of NFL and college football teams to stadium capacity to fan engagement.

Make sure to check out the infographic for cool stats about the biggest sporting event of the year.

Best vs. Worst

• The Kansas City Chiefs‘ performance level, is 2.6 times better than the performance level of the Carolina Panthers.
   
• Glendale, Arizona, has the lowest average ticket price for an NFL game, which is 1.7 times less expensive than in Las Vegas, the city with the highest.
   
• Green Bay, Wisconsin, has the highest engagement of fans for an NFL team, which is 71.6 times higher than in New York, the city with the lowest.

What are some strategies for fans to enjoy watching football (at home, in a bar, at the stadium) without breaking the bank?

“It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the game and in so doing we may be enticed to spend more freely than we had anticipated. So, when entertaining at home if you have a big group coming you might want to share the hosting costs by creating a potluck where other guests bring dishes to share. If catering yourself, take advantage of the sales that many of the grocery stores will hold in the lead-up to the Super Bowl. Think about the number of people and buy accordingly, rather than having too many leftovers. If going out to a bar to watch the game, take advantage of any specials the bar may be offering on drinks and food. Also, sharing appetizers and larger portions will help spread the cost. But do not forget to save enough to tip your wait staff!”
Heather J Gibson, Ph.D. – Professor; Undergraduate Coordinator, Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, University of Florida

“For fans looking to enjoy football without breaking the bank, organizing watch parties with friend groups and family can be a cost-effective way to share the experience. This will also enhance social bonding among friends and family. Additionally, splitting the cost of season tickets among friends and family can make attending games more affordable.”
Jason C. Pappas, Ed.D. – Teaching Professor; Experiential Learning Coordinator, Department of Sport Management, Florida State University

Does hosting the Super Bowl economically help or hurt the host city?

“A Super Bowl creates an incredible economic impact for a city based on the number of unique visitors who come to the city for the event. The Super Bowl is no longer a sporting event but a social event. It is no longer a day, it is a week and the unique visitors extend beyond fans to include global media, vendors, and non-football stakeholders. It is an event that is used by major corporations for client entertainment and the NFL has done an amazing job of merging sport and entertainment into the event. It is an incredible commercial for the city for those who visit and for those who get to see the glamour shots of the city on the pregame shows all week to the day of the game.”
Dr. Matthew J. Robinson – Director of Community Engagement Initiative; Professor, University of Delaware

“Hosting the Super Bowl can economically benefit a host city, primarily if the city invests in creating a memorable experience for businesses, fans, and sponsors. The economic impact can be significant, but success depends on effective planning, infrastructure, and collaboration between the host city and the NFL. Also, various intangible aspects like the destination image of the city, brand equity of the stadium, and tourism favorableness are important factors that help cities organize the Super Bowl.”
Jason C. Pappas, Ed.D. – Teaching Professor; Experiential Learning Coordinator, Department of Sport Management, Florida State University

What are the biggest challenges facing professional football today?

“Off the field, it is the societal concern about the safety of the game. More and more parents are not having their kids play the game. NFL has done a great job of pivoting and promoting flag football, but with increased awareness and growth of the sport of lacrosse and the continued growth of soccer, will football be threatened a generation from now? The second is where gambling has been a vital part of increased viewership of football because of betting in the thriving fantasy environment. There are again societal concerns over the well-being of those addicted to gambling, including the potential for anger and or acts of violence directed at players who are the cause for gambling losses (e.g., missed field goal, fumble, etc.) Finally, the potential impact on the integrity of games is based on players’ knowledge of lines and also the potential of gambling themselves, even though they are not allowed. The integrity of the game can be questioned.”
Dr. Matthew J. Robinson – Director of Community Engagement Initiative; Professor, University of Delaware

“Professional football’s most significant challenges today include managing fan affordability regarding ticket prices, parking, food, and merchandise. The delivery of professional football is evolving towards streaming, but the cost to consumers may vary depending on the platform and subscription models adopted by leagues and broadcasters. Also, there are concerns about the increasing level of financial difficulties facing many franchises, as they are now often owned by wealthy individuals with no links to the community or the club’s history. The adoption of good governance practices can contribute to the professionalism of football clubs, increase their revenues, and decrease administrative problems.”
Jason C. Pappas, Ed.D. – Teaching Professor; Experiential Learning Coordinator, Department of Sport Management, Florida State University