An idiot's guide to the Super Bowl
Things you should know about the Super Bowl.
Ever wondered what the Super Bowl is and why it's such a big deal in America?
Well here are some facts and figures about one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
The Super Bowl is an annual American Football game played between the winners of two 'conferences', the NFL (National Football League) and the AFL (American Football League). The winners this year are the Carolina Panthers (NFL) and the Denver Broncos (AFL).
This year's event is Super Bowl 50, that's a whole 50 years since it started when it was a much smaller event in Los Angeles.
WATCH: Super Bowl 50 trailer on YouTube »
Super Bowl 50 details:
Location: Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Date: 7th February 2016 Teams: Carolina Panthers v Denver Broncos The Panthers have never won before whilst the Broncos have won twice. Half Time Show: Coldplay
WATCH: Pepsi are sponsoring the halftime show this year, watch a pre-event interview with Chris Martin »
Other facts
- A Bowl Game is a post-season college football game. - It always takes place on the first Sunday in February. - The day the Super Bowl takes place is nicknamed 'Super Bowl Sunday' and regarded by many as a 'holiday'. - The Super Bowl is one of the most watched annual sporting events in the world. - The first Super Bowl took place in Los Angeles on the 15th January 1967. - This year it is believed that advertisers pay $5 million per 30 second advert during the event. - The location of the Super Bowl is chosen by the NFL well in advance, usually three to five years before the game. - Cities must bid to host the Super Bowl and meet a number of criteria. - The location of the 2018 Super Bowl will be at the U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota which hasn't been built yet! - The Super Bowl has an infamous half-time show which has included a stellar line-up in previous years such as Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Madonna, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2.
Check out the official Super Bowl Viewer's Guide »