We just passed one of the most important Sundays in football.  Superbowl XLI was played this past Sunday and it will be talked about until Superbowl XLII comes around next winter.  This year it became more of an area rivalry because the two teams play in places not too far apart from each other.  Ticket frenzy began when the teams were decided and some say tickets were selling for several thousands of dollars on eBay.

What does make this Sunday any different from other football Sundays?  Let’s look at a few important reasons the Superbowl remains so popular.

With the Superbowl come many myths and legends surrounding the biggest football game of the year.  Some claim the winner will be a stock exchange indicator.  The saying is that if an old AFL team wins the Superbowl, stocks will decline that year.  But if an original NFL team wins, the stock is ready for an upswing.  Researchers say this worked 90 percent of the time for the last 31 Superbowl games!  Stockbrokers say you just cannot turn your back on odds that give you an 80-90 percent success rate.  This year both teams were original NFL teams and the stockbrokers could not be happier.  They feel it is means an especially good year for stocks!

Another common belief is the host city for the Superbowl can expect a huge economic boom when it comes to their city.  Restaurants, businesses, and hotels gear up for thousands of fans to invade their city and spend their money.  They believe retail sales will take a big jump, hotels will be full and more money will be spent for food and drink than any other convention or business meeting in the city.  This may or may not be true.

This year the Superbowl was held in Miami.  Since February is a month that sees many tourists avoiding the cold winds, snow, and sleet from the North, the amount of tourism could stay the same.  Some say the regular tourists will make their reservations at a different time than Superbowl week, and the tourist industry in South Florida will not see a gain.  Researchers believe that a host city can expect to have an economic impact in the range of $250-$350 million dollar range.  Most cities report about $30 million dollars impact when they host the Superbowl. 

The excitement then is for the game itself.  Football fans avidly follow their team through the season and root them on during play-offs.  Bears fans reflected the last time they went to the Superbowl and long to make this dream a reality for there fans this year.  The Indianapolis Colts, found just a few hours from Chicago want to be the lucky receiver of the coveted Superbowl rings. 

This year was a historic year because both coaches were African-American.  The first time a Superbowl has had an African-American coach a team, and of course this year two men did that.  Wouldn’t it be great when this no longer makes headlines?  They are both great coaches, prayerful men of God and great family men.  They care for the game and their players.  It was great to hear their humble speeches at the end of the night.

Superbowl Sunday does mean increased food sales at the local grocery and delis.  Pizza and hot wing delivery drivers were busy throughout the night, and some gathered in their local bars to watch the game.  Churches get in on the act by using the Superbowl to attract people to Sunday evening service instead of making them choose.

Large screen TV’s always reached a sales peak right before the Superbowl.  Many people take this opportunity to upgrade to a larger TV or an HDTV model.

Most people like the commercials.  Some are great, some dull and boring, but always something different during the Superbowl game! 

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