All is in readiness for what is arguably the biggest day of the year in American sports, as Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday (February 10, 2025, 5am as per India time) in Super Bowl LIX, that is, the 59th edition of the NFL competition. (More Sports News)
Lots of storylines have emerged ahead of the much-awaited contest. Here are 10 things you need to know before the rivalry unfolds in New Orleans:
Chiefs Eye Three-Peat
History beckons the Kansas City Chiefs, who will be aiming to become the first-ever team in the league to win three consecutive Super Bowls. They have appeared in four of the previous five Super Bowls and won three of them. Further, the Chiefs come in with a 15-2 season record, beating the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills in the playoffs.
Trump To Attend
A statement from the US Secret Service confirmed that Donald Trump will travel to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. He will thus become the first sitting American president to attend a Super Bowl, implying that he can congratulate the game's MVP in person, rather than the traditional presidential phone call that has happened since 1970 when Richard Nixon initiated it.
Record Betting Handle
The American Gaming Association projects a record 1.39 billion US dollars to be wagered legally on Super Bowl LIX. The numbers speak for themselves. For instance: even though the Detroit Lions have not made the cut, Michigan residents are projected to wager around 47 million US dollars collectively.
Swifties Rejoice
Fans of Taylor Swift are expected to prop up the eyeballs, as the global music icon will most likely be present to cheer boyfriend and Chiefs star Travis Kelce. It would be her second major Super Bowl appearance. Last year she flew in straight from her Tokyo Eras Tour shows to watch Kelce win the title with his team.
Lamar At Half-Time
Grammy Award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar will headline the halftime show. It's the second time Kendrick Lamar will perform at halftime, he previously co-headlined with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige in 2022. This time, he will go solo.
Dizzying Commercials
With over 120 million viewers projected to watch the telecast of Super Bowl LIX, the commercials have been sold at even higher prices than before. Sample this: a 30-second ad spot in the American broadcast costs 8 million US dollars. Brands across industries have lapped up the spots, nevertheless.
Venue Record
The Caesar's Superdome in Louisiana is hosting the Super Bowl for a record eighth time. It's the 11th time overall that the grand event has been held in New Orleans, with two previous editions taking place at the old Tulane Stadium.
National Anthem
Another Grammy-winning artist, Jon Batiste will sing the American national anthem before the game begins.
Coaches' Corner
The two head coaches for the game will be Andy Reid for Kansas City and Nick Sirianni for Philadelphia. Reid is the winningest head coach for both teams, and also the only NFL coach to win 100 games for two different teams.
Pledges
The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art have agreed to loan one of their masterworks to whichever city wins. The Philadelphia Zoo and Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium say they will decorate their famous statues (an elephant and a polar bear, respectively) with gear from the winning team.
