Super Bowl: Amazing Non-Football Stats

Consistently one of the most watched TV events in the US broadcasting schedule, the Super Bowl is an American institution, regularly reaching a viewing audience of over 160 million. Last year, Super Bowl XLIII was the most watched game in the history of the event and this year's predicted viewing figures of 168 million.

However, in the aftermath of the game which saw the New Orleans Saints triumph over the Indianapolis Colts, it is easy to forget that, among the touchdowns, kicks and transfer fees, how much the event actually generates for the US economy.

Of course, one of the most well-known facts about the Super Bowl is the cost of advertising space, with film companies and other firms this year having to spend $3 million for a 30 second advert. However, the size of the audience that these companies are able to reach isn't lost of them and even the more mundane groups have realised the benefits - after all, a recent survey revealed that 24.3 percent of viewers watch for the ads and that 7.1 percent say the commercials influence them to buy the products shown. As such, the Census Bureau spent $2.5 million to air one 30-second Super Bowl ad this year.

However, one day of Super Bowl madness generates the US economy an estimated $8.9 billion with the average viewer spending $52.63 on food, merchandise, apparel and other game-related purchases. Not just that, but the sheer amount of money bet on the game (officially) was estimated to be between $80 million and $85 million according to the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Massive income and outcome

Of course like all successful businesses, the Super Bowl is a mega-franchise made up of numerous individual smaller franchises. The two teams that featured in this year's final are individually worth close to a billion dollars each, with the estimated franchise value of the New Orleans Saints said to be around $942 million (pre-Super Bowl win. Expect that to now rise dramatically). Meanwhile, the value of the Colts was (also pre-Super Bowl) said to be worth $1.025 billion.

The high salaries of football players is well documented and as such, these two teams have annual payrolls of between $100-120 million. In fact, some of the players are paid so much, a pound of their weight earns as much as the average US citizen does in a year.

To explain, the total weight of Saints' starting defensive line is 1,167 pounds. The starting defensive line's combined salary is approximately $18.8 million - that's $16,110 per pound of Saints' defender. In comparison, a pound of premium Tajima Kobe beef Chateaubriand steak found in New York's top restaurants costs $320.

However, these figures go up even further with lucrative sponsorship deals. While it may be no huge surprise to learn that these teams earn as much as they do, fans would be more shocked to learn that since the first Super Bowl in 1967, ticket prices have risen by over 22,225 percent. In comparison, the average US home price has risen 'only' 999 percent.

Of course, it's not just about the players and teams. One of the joys of the Super Bowl is kicking back for a Sunday with friends and family while drinking and eating during the game. As such, Domino's projects that the number of pizza slices they would sell this weekend would top nine million while, for the more healthier fan, avocado sales - due to guacamole making - would top 160 million according to the California Avocado Commission.

So no matter who win, and despite the amazing facts and figures regarding player fees, it is clear that Super Bowl Sunday continues to be a massive draw for Americans nationwide - the 32 million people that will throw a Superbowl party this year are a testament to that... not to mention the 59 million that will be attending one.

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