On February 11, 2024, football fans around the globe will have a chance to watch the world championship between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.
But most Mississippians (and most Americans, for that matter) will be viewing this year’s game in front of a screen. According to CBS Sports, the lowest-priced ticket for Super Bowl LVIII is right at $5,500 and the average entrance fee into the Sunday event at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is $9,300.
Unlike in years gone by, watching the Super Bowl may require more than simply turning on the television at 5:30 p.m. central time.
Yes, the game will air on CBS! But for viewers without a cable provider, Paramount+ will be streaming the game on its app, and Nickelodeon will be offering a kid-friendly simulcast of the game (For those who might be wondering, all three of these providers are part of the Paramount Global media family).
It’s kind of ironic that the very first broadcast of the inaugural Super Bowl on January 15, 1967, was provided via CBS. That game also involved the Kansas City Chiefs playing against the Green Bay Packers.
It’s not the first time for the Chiefs to play in the Big Game. This is their sixth appearance in a Super Bowl showdown, with three wins (1970, 2020, and 2023) and two losses, including a loss in that very first Super Bowl in 1967 and an unsuccessful attempt at back-to-back wins in 2021.
After defeating the Philadelphia Eagles last year, the Chiefs are hoping to change that stat and win back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024.
But keep in mind that no team has ever won three in a row, and only seven teams have won two consecutive Super Bowl titles, including the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers (who did it twice), San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and New England Patriots.
Now, whether you are rooting for the Chiefs or the 49ers, almost everyone would agree that this final football showdown of the season is the perfect excuse for a party.
In Mississippi, that means great food and lots of it. Yes, it is our tradition at every gathering to make sure everyone eats well, even those who come to our homes and pull for the wrong team.
Another tradition in Mississippi on Super Bowl Sunday involves our youth.
Youth leaders around the state are already planning for this weekend’s events. In fact, many Mississippi churches will focus entirely on their young people this Sunday night.
Cory Hays, associate pastor of Parkway Baptist Church in Tupelo, sees the game as an opportunity to build relationships with teens in his congregation, while also offering newcomers a casual and comfortable way to meet and make new friends outside the walls of the church.
The Parkway youth group will meet at the home of a church member to watch the game, play some card and board games, and, of course, eat lots of good food. Each teen is encouraged to invite friends for this time of fellowship.
“It’s just a fun night,” said Hays,”It’s a time for the youth to hang out with their friends and watch the game in a regular home setting. It’s also a great way for their young guests to experience church life outside of the church.”
Like other civic and church youth leaders around the state, Hays has seen this one night of football turn into a long-term, much-needed source of community for those visiting teens.
And in our state rich with welcoming hospitality, that means that Super Bowl Sunday can be a win-win for everyone involved.
