Few things unite the country quite like the Super Bowl. Every year, around 100 million Americans tune in to see which NFL team lifts the Lombardi Trophy, an event as much about the football on the field as the spectacle that surrounds it. Super Bowl LVIII, set to kick off in Las Vegas on Sunday, will be no different. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s game.
Who’s playing in the Super Bowl?
Super Bowl LVIII will pit the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers.
It is a rematch of the 2020 Super Bowl, which Kansas City won 31-20. Led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and increasingly popular tight end Travis Kelce, KC will be playing in its fourth Super Bowl in five seasons. On the other side, quarterback Brock Purdy, the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, will try to help the 49ers win their first Super Bowl since 1995, when current SF head coach Kyle Shanahan’s father, Mike, was the team’s offensive coordinator.
Super Bowl preview: 49ers to face Chiefs in Las Vegas for super rematch
What time does the Super Bowl kick off?
Super Bowl LVIII is slated to kick off Sunday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. EST from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The venue seats 65,000 and opened in 2020.
What channel is the Super Bowl on?
If you’re in control of the remote on Sunday, you’ll want to find your local CBS station for the primary Super Bowl broadcast. But there are other options: Nickelodeon will air a family-friendly version of the game while streamers can watch on Paramount+.
- What: Super Bowl LVIII
- Who: Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
- When: 6:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 11
- TV: CBS, Nickelodeon
- Streaming: Paramount+
Will Taylor Swift be at the Super Bowl?
Taylor Swift, the mega-popular artist who just won a Grammy for Album of the Year, has been spotted at many of Kansas City’s games this season, especially in the playoffs, having started a romance with Kelce. Her attendance at the Super Bowl, however, is complicated by the fact she’s performing a show half a world away in Tokyo the night before.
According to the Japan embassy in the U.S., Swift can make the 12-hour flight across the Pacific Ocean to Las Vegas just in time for the game to begin. Though she has not yet confirmed her attendance, at this point it would be surprising if she missed the biggest party of the year. And who knows, she might even end up at Disneyland, too.
Who is performing in the Super Bowl halftime show?
When the football players go into the locker room for a halftime break, a whole different type of entertainment on the field begins. This year, Usher headlines the Super Bowl halftime show, but he’s hardly the only big-name artist performing in Las Vegas.
Country music legend Reba McEntire will sing the national anthem, while Post Malone and Andra Day will also perform before the game. During the game itself, Tiësto will become the NFL’s first-ever in-game Super Bowl DJ.
What about the commercials?
If football and music don’t do it for you, chances are you’ll still want to watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. As the most-watched event of the year — a record 115.1 million viewers watched in 2023 — advertisers spend millions of dollars for a mere 30-second spot during the big game.
This year, you can expect to see “Wednesday” actor Jenna Ortega promote Doritos, World Cup winner Lionel Messi sell Michelob Ultra and Bud Light attempt to regain its title as America’s most popular beer, plus many more ads featuring stars such as Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Tina Fey, Glenn Close, Kate McKinnon, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, David Beckham and Jason Sudeikis.
So is $7 million for 30 seconds of ad time worth it? It depends who you ask.
What should I cook for my Super Bowl party?
Don’t think we forgot about the nachos. No Super Bowl is complete without an overabundance of food and drink.
If you’re short on inspiration, here’s a quick rundown of how to throw the perfect Super Bowl party, including recipes for mozzarella arancini, kielbasa puff pastries and cocktails.
If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, these healthier items will be welcome at any big game potluck.
Can I bet on the Super Bowl?
Seeing as this year’s Super Bowl is the first in Sin City, (well, technically it’s in Paradise, Nevada, adjacent to Las Vegas), there will be plenty of gambling going on around the big game — just not from the players participating. The NFL has said all gambling, including sportsbooks and casino games, is off limits for players, coaches and team personnel for the 49ers and Chiefs.
Fans who live in the 37 states where sports betting is legal, which doesn’t include California, have favored the Chiefs so far, despite Kansas City’s underdog status.
