The Super Bowl is a money printer

Happy Sunday

It's Super Bowl Sunday!

While 100+ million of us argue about play calls and rank commercials, the real scoreboard is measured in dollars. You already know the game. The economics behind this thing are so absurd they deserve their own broadcast.

Keeping it light hearted this week and doing some quick hits on the economics of the Superbowl.

Let's dig in…

$10 million for 30 seconds of your attention

That's what a single ad slot costs during today's game. Up from $8 million last year. And that $10 million only buys the airtime. The production, the celebrity cameo, the two weeks of teaser clips on social media, all extra.

Emma Stone is fake-crying in one. Lady Gaga sings "Won't You Be My Neighbor" in another. Ben Affleck made a cringe TV pilot and is apparently showing it to famous friends. Somebody approved eight-figure budgets for all of this, and it’s a blast to watch… (come on we all love it)

Tickets started at $6,000 and they're still falling

The NFL priced entry at around $6K. Secondary market has a pair going for about $4,300 now, which tells you something about where demand actually sits at those levels. Still, with 60,000+ people in the building, the league is projected to clear close to $400 million from ticket and luxury box revenue alone. For one afternoon of football.

The Bay Area gets a week-long cash injection

I'll spare you the full stat sheet, but the numbers are big enough to mention. The host committee estimates the event drops somewhere between $370 million and $630 million into the local economy. 90,000+ visitors from outside the region. About 5,000 temporary jobs. $16 million in state and local tax revenue.

Last year's game in New Orleans generated $1.25 billion across Louisiana. Visitors spent $500 million. Tax revenue alone was over $80 million. These events are basically portable economic stimulus packages.

Today’s Sponsor

You're overpaying for crypto.

Every exchange has different prices for the same crypto. Most people stick with one and pay whatever it costs.

CoW Swap checks them all automatically. Finds the best price. Executes your trade. Takes 30 seconds.

Stop leaving money on the table.

Check your price

Every player on both rosters already got paid

Win or lose, every Patriot and every Seahawk walks away with a bonus today. Winners get $178,000 each. Losers get $103,000. That's the CBA.

To put that in perspective, Milton Williams….the Patriots' highest-paid player in franchise history is sitting on a four-year, $104 million contract with $63 million guaranteed.

His Super Bowl bonus is basically a rounding error. Tip money.

Americans will legally bet $1.76 billion on this game

That's the American Gaming Association's estimate. A record, naturally.

But the weirdest corner of the market is "mention bets." People are wagering on what phrases the announcers will or won't say during the broadcast. Over $47 million staked this season on Kalshi's mention market alone. I don't know whether to be impressed or concerned, but I'm definitely paying attention to it.

Today’s Sponsor

Tired of news that feels like noise?

Every day, 4.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news fix. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture — all in a brief 5-minute email. No spin. No slant. Just clarity.

Join for free today!

The halftime performer gets basically nothing

The artist performing today (Bad Bunny and friends) gets paid union scale. About $1,000. The NFL covers production costs, but that's it.

The trade is exposure. After Kendrick Lamar's set last year, his U.S. Spotify streams jumped 173% overnight. "Not Like Us" spiked 430%. So you play for free, go viral, and let streaming revenue do the rest.

Apple pays the NFL close to $50 million a year just to sponsor the halftime show. The performer gets a thousand bucks. Apple pays $50 million. The NFL keeps the difference. I'd call it unfair, but it's just smart leverage. The artists keep lining up.

Stay curious 🙂 

- John