Touchdown!
1:00 pm'With 30-second ads reportedly costing at least $5 million,' * over 100 million people predicted to watch worldwide and what is anticipated to be an unpredictable half-time show from Lady Gaga, it's going to be hard to ignore the phenomenon of Super Bowl 51.
Over the years I have made many attempts to try and understand "Football", and last year I seemed to eventually get the hang of it. However I still don't understand: how a game that is meant to last an hour can go on for what seems like an eternity?, why do you need an offence and a defence - shouldn't they be able to do both? and why in England do we not get the famous adverts?
Well I don't think I will ever truly understand why it goes on for so long and I highly anticipate that I will never get much further than the halftime show before giving up. But in terms of why we don't get the adverts in England, well it's because our coverage is on the BBC meaning there is no commercial activity throughout the game at all. The BBC took this event on last year and with 'all those breaks in the game that U.S. marketers fill with their best, boldest and most expensive spots of the year, were used by the BBC to explain the rules to puzzled Brits who needed extra time to learn about "downs," "pockets," and "defensive ends."'** - maybe this is how I got the grasp of it. With deals striking up to bring the NFL over to London even more frequently, I wouldn't be shocked if after this years event and the end of BBC's two year deal, that another channel will be ready to swoop in and start to think about making it just as much as an advertising event as a sporting event, similar to what they have been doing for years in the US.
However if your looking for more than just sitting at home or going to the pub to watch the game, Budweiser (who's ad this year is not only incredible, but so relevant - check it out here), are hosting an awesome Super Bowl party in London.
Taking place on the night of the game, 'the event aims to bring all the excitement of this year's Super Bowl to fans on this side of the pond. It will include the chance to watch the Super Bowl Live, drink ice-cold Budweisers and feast on American-inspired dishes from Dinerama's street food traders, including BBQ subs, chilli dogs and peanut butter doughnuts.
Steph Okell, marketing manager at Budweiser UK, has said: "As official beer of the NFL, we want to ensure that fans who are committed to supporting their teams through the night have an awesome Super Bowl experience here in London."'***There is definitely a lot we can learn from the bold and brash marketing used for the Super Bowl in America. The only thing similar that we have in the UK, is I guess, the fight for the memorable Christmas ad, where brands want to become the - Oh my god I've just seen the (insert here) ad, it's now officially Christmas! However I feel I can speak on behalf of many, that we don't want hundreds of adverts breaking up our viewing, but the build-up and events surrounding the game are something to consider. As previously written in The Sure Thing and The Ultimate Fan Experience, UK teams, especially football, are starting to pick up on this - but we have a very long way to go.
*http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/super-bowl-ad-tracker-all-about-2017s-commercials-175124/
**http://adage.com/article/global-news/super-bowl-advertising-free-zone-u-k/302509/
***http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/budweiser-host-super-bowl-party/brands/article/1422489?bulletin=event-news-bulletin&utm_medium=EMAIL&utm_campaign=eNews%20Bulletin&utm_source=20170130&utm_content=www_eventmagazine_co_uk_a_1
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