MOLINE, Ill. — An estimated 200 million Americans watched last night’s Super Bowl game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. This set the record for the most-watched television event in American history. But last night’s game also set a different type of record. Super Bowl LVIII officially became the single most heavily wagered sporting event in American history.
News 8's Devin Brooks spoke with Mark Grywacheski of the Quad Cities Investment Group to discuss the ins and outs of the Super Bowl.
Brooks: What can you tell us about some of the statistics from last night’s Super Bowl game?
Grywacheski: The SB has always been one of the more popular television events.
- A record-high 200 million Americans watched last night’s Super Bowl game. This surpassed the previous record of 150 million Americans who watched the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969.
- But this surge in sports betting we’ve seen over the past six years all ties back to that landmark 2018 Supreme Court decision that nullified the federal ban that prohibited betting on sporting events. That decision immediately opened the floodgates to investors/companies that now wanted to offer legalized sports betting but also to the state/local governments that saw the potential tax revenues. Today, you can place a bet on a sporting event at many casinos or from the comfort of your couch using your computer or cell phone.
- A record-high 67.8 million American adults placed some type of wager on the Super Bowl game.
- This represents about 26% of all U.S. adults.
- A record-high $23.1 billion was wagered (legally or illegally) on last night’s Super Bowl game.
- This is up $7.1 billion from last year.
- As of Friday morning, the cheapest ticket to attend the game was $6,281 for a nosebleed seat.
- As of Friday morning, the most expensive ticket was $51,030 for a single seat in the 15th row.
- If you and a few of your friends wanted to pay for a luxury suite that comes with free food/drinks, it would have cost you between $1.4-$2.5 million.
- A can of beer at the stadium concession stand will cost between $14-$18.
Brooks: For many people, one of their favorite aspects of the Super Bowl is going to a Super Bowl party. What are some of the more interesting facts and figures behind this year’s event?
Grywacheski: For many Americans, going to a Super Bowl party is just as, or even more important, than watching the actual game itself. This year:
- 112.2 million Americans either held or attended a Super Bowl party.
- The average cost to host a Super Bowl party is $86.04.
- Just 44% of people who attend a Super Bowl party say watching the game is the most important part of the Super Bowl. Others say it’s watching the Super Bowl commercials, the halftime show or just being a part of the festivities.
- This year, it will cost advertisers $7 million to run a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl.
Attending Super Bowl parties isn’t the healthiest of endeavors.
- On Super Bowl Sunday, an estimated 32 million gallons of beer was consumed.
- That’s enough to fill 493 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
- On Super Bowl Sunday, an estimated 88 million pounds of cheese was consumed.
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