Super Bowl 2024 Showdown: Betting Billions, Marquee Matchups, and the Swifty Effect
By Jeannette Carrington
jcarrington@lc.edu
According to Forbes, the 2023 Super Bowl attracted an estimated audience of 192.9 million U.S. adults to the broadcast. Additionally, a reported 50 million Americans placed bets on the game, marking a 61 percent increase from 2022, with a staggering $16 billion wagered. Forbes also reported that the National Retail Federation projected Americans to spend $16.5 billion on Super Bowl Sunday, covering purchases for food, drinks, apparel, decorations, and other items.
Given the substantial financial involvement, questions may arise about whether the game can be considered merely a game, as the numbers are no laughing matter. However, there is added intrigue surrounding this annual contest of gridiron gladiators. Marquee names are looking to establish post-season legacies, with opposing quarterbacks at different stages of their careers holding the most crucial position on an NFL team.
Patrick Mahomes, the 28-year-old quarterback for the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs, will face off against Brock Purdy, the less experienced quarterback for the San Francisco Forty-Niners and the reigning MVP of the 2022 game. Steve Serby’s piece in the New York Post notes that Purdy was named Mr. Irrelevant after being selected as the 262nd and final pick of the 2022 draft out of Iowa State. Worth noting is that by the time Purdy was drafted, Mahomes had already secured his first Super Bowl victory. It wouldn’t be surprising if Mahomes adds another Lombardi trophy to his collection.
Of course, football is not a one-on-one game by any means; each season is played by 32 teams with a max of 22 players on the field at any given time. This year’s edition features notable participants expected to impact the game, such as running back Christian McCaffrey from the Forty-Niners. Once a contender for the regular season MVP award, McCaffrey adds an intriguing dynamic to the match.
There are key players on both teams, but one of the most interesting storylines revolves around the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end, Travis Kelce. However, the focus isn’t necessarily on his game day performance, but rather on whether his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, will be in attendance.
As of now, the popular music sensation has four consecutive concerts lined up in Japan, with the final concert scheduled for Feb. 10, a day before the Super Bowl. The question that presents itself is: does it matter if she attends or not? During an interview with CBS, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that the couple’s relationship is beneficial for the NFL business, bringing together Swift’s fans and NFL fans, ultimately expanding the NFL’s fan base. While reports suggest that Kelce had a somewhat sub-par season by his standards, both Kelce’s and the team’s season appear on track for another Super Bowl triumph.
It’s worth noting that when Swift was present, the Chiefs won more often than they lost. Kelce played exceptionally well in the playoffs, catching a touchdown in each of the last two games, including two against the Buffalo Bills in a close 27-24 victory. Out of the 11 games that Taylor attended, the Chiefs won eight, translating to a 73 percent success rate. The “Swifty Effect” on the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Kelce’s performance seems mostly positive when she attends games.
To that end, we should consider perhaps the one factor that will decide the outcome of the 2024 Super Bowl championship, “Will Taylor be in attendance or not?” To answer this burning question, the Japanese embassy in Washington DC has issued a statement saying,
“Anyone concerned can be fearless in knowing that this talented performer can wow Japanese audiences and still make it to Las Vegas to support the Chiefs when they take the field for the Super Bowl wearing Red.“
With this information, we are calling it. The 2024 Super Bowl champions will be the Kansas City Chiefs—unless, of course, it’s the San Francisco Forty-Niners. As of this writing, there isn’t information on whether they are fans of the pop music superstar or not.
