The Super Bowl of Food

Super Bowl LVIII is set to kick off this Sunday, Feb 11, 2024. An epic matchup between my beloved Kansas City Chiefs and another team called the San Francisco Forty-Niners. Bias report: The Chiefs are playing in their third Super Bowl in four years, and a third trophy is on the line. So, let’s bring home again. Just saying.

While most of us in this part of the country will be rooting on Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelcie, and yes, Taylor Swift, for all you haters out there. The rest will view or attend what has been dubbed the “second largest eating holiday in the US. Thanksgiving remains in its first-place position. But, Americans have embraced the Super Bowl of eating and drinking, cheering on their favorite teams with little heed to calories or fat. All that cheering and jumping around has to burn off a few calories. As it turns out, an average of 6000 calories is consumed over a four-hour period. Yowza, that’s a whole lot of snacking for the estimated 200 million viewers who watched the game in 2023. Analysts are predicting an even larger audience this year due to the potential presence of she, who shall not be named. So, Shake it Off, people, you all know it’s true love.

What exactly are we eating on Super Bowl Sunday? I am sure you can easily name many of the top favorites off the top of your head. You will be shocked by the staggering amounts of food consumed by the numbers. Drum roll, please!

  According to Premio foods, one in seven of you will order takeout on Super Bowl Sunday and sixty percent of those takeout orders will be your favorite pizza. Coming in at very close to number two, but number one in my book is chicken wings. As a chicken owner, I am going to preface this by saying all my hens retain their wings and are valued for their egg-laying abilities only. But, according to the National Chicken Council, Americans will consume 1.25 billion chicken wings on Super Bowl Sunday. Over half of wing-eating Americans prefer to dip their wings in ranch dressing.

Chips and dip are another favorite American snack. Buffalo chicken dip, spinach artichoke dip, and guacamole dip are all top five favorites. Nachos, piled high with guacamole dip, is so popular that according to the Avocado Board (and yes, there is one), 105 million pounds of avocados will be devoured on Super Bowl Sunday. When you do that math, about 8 million pounds of guacamole dip makes the green stuff, the unofficial dip of the Super Bowl.  

  1.3 billion dollars, yes, that’s with a ‘B’, will be spent on beer and malt-flavored beverages. And for all you wine lovers, 594 million will be spent on vino. Five hundred three million will be spent on whiskey, vodka, and tequila for the serious drinkers out there. Let me preface these facts with, Do Not Drink and Drive! Ever!

We all know, sales on food and drinks equals increased consumer spending. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates over 200 million Americans will watch the Super Bowl this upcoming Sunday. More than half of those will host or attend a Super Bowl party, and 16 million of you will watch the game from a bar or restaurant. In addition to food and apparel, spending on other football-related products could reach 17.3 billion. Las Vegas, the host city, will take in $500 million in revenue, a sort of consolation prize for the hometown of the Raiders. And at least we forget about sports gambling. About 1 in 4 of you will bet on the outcome of the game. I advise never to bet against the Chiefs, but I might be biased.

Let's address the elephant in the room, or, in this case, the lack of Clydesdales in the ads. Sigh, I do miss those guys. According to the NYC Times, a thirty-second ad during the Super Bowl will set you back a cool seven million dollars. So, be prepared to view the alternative game to play on the field––the Super Bowl of advertising.

If you are one of those people who believe all the hype is not worth the price, then this post is not for you. However, the majority of us are prepared to watch the game with friends and family while cheering on our teams. After all, the game is the moment when sports transcends the doldrums of daily life by elevating our sports heroes into legends. So, enjoy the game, the camaraderie, and the food. FYI, don’t forget the antacids. Sales of these products will rise 20%. And when Monday morning rolls around and 1.5 million Americans call in sick, I hope you get well soon. The only exception is the 49ers fans. All kidding aside, have fun, be responsible, and How about those Chiefs?