Super Bowl 50 is finally here! After making short work of the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs, the Carolina Panthers have snagged a well-deserved spot in the championship game and will face off against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 7th. This year’s Super Bowl is expected to be huge, not only because of the fierce competition, but also because this is considered the golden anniversary of the Super Bowl. In honor of this milestone, here is some history about the Super Bowl and the Carolina Panthers, in addition to what you need to know about the game this Sunday:
A Brief History of the Super Bowl
The first Super Bowl began as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and the now defunct American Football League (AFL). The NFL’s Green Bay Packers went up against the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1967 and the plan was to merge the two leagues in 1970. After the merger, the teams were called “conferences” and it was decided that the National Football Conference (NFC) would play against the American Football Conference (AFC) in the following Super Bowl games. It is now frequently the most-watched American television show in the United States.
Carolina Panthers, Past and Present
Fans of the Cardiac Cats are desperately hoping to snag a win this year. It can be argued that the Cats deserve the win this year after a stellar season (15-1) and taking into account their history with the Super Bowl. This will be the second time that the Panthers have played in the Super Bowl, and their first win ever if they defeat the Broncos. After losing to the New England Patriots in 2004, it’s safe to say that the Panthers are hungry for a Super Bowl win.
Super Bowl 50: What You Should Know
Get ready for the golden anniversary of the Super Bowl! Here are some fast facts about this year’s Super Bowl:
- In honor of the 50th Super Bowl, the NFL is temporarily suspending the use of Roman numerals and is calling the game “Super Bowl 50” instead. The NFL has been using Roman numerals since 1971 with Super Bowl V.
- A 30-second advertisement slot is said to cost up to $5 million. That is an average of $166,666 per second. Last year’s Super Bowl had a base price of $4.5 million.
- Many are noting the age difference between the two rival quarterbacks. Cam Newton is 26, while Peyton Manning is 39. That is a 13-year age difference.
- The league decided to change its extra point rules this offseason and moved the spot to the 15-yard line. This could have a significant impact on a team’s decision to go for an extra point and it could also make that extra point after a touchdown no longer guaranteed.
- Beyoncé is the only female to perform at a Super Bowl more than once.
- Not only will winners receive the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but they will also receive an 18-karat gold-plated “50” this year.
- The Super Bowl 50 Host Committee is ambitiously stating that this will be the “most giving” Super Bowl ever. To achieve this, the committee says it needs to donate more than $13 million.
Watch the Game in Ballantyne
After you are finished catching up on work, it’s time to relax this Sunday. The Super Bowl will air on CBS at 6:30 p.m. ET and there are plenty of places to view the game if you don’t want to watch at home. Local favorites such as Unknown Brewing will be having a pregame party with $3 ales all night long, while D9 Brewing will also have great deals on beer and a huge projection screen to watch the game. For an even bigger screen, check out Carolina Cinemas where they will be holding a free viewing of the Super Bowl on their enormous movie screen. No matter where you end up, one thing is for certain: this is a game that you won’t want to miss!
