Super Bowl LII, the big game of the year!

But first, what’s the Super Bowl?

For Americans, it’s the sporting event of the year. The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the NFL, the National Football League.

The first Big Game took place in 1967 after the merger of the NFL and the American Football League. This game will tell us which team is THE ultimate champion of the United States.

The Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event in the US. It is used by the TV programs to broadcast a huge number of advertisements only made for that special night. The cost is astronomical.

This year like every other, advertising agencies are keen to create THE most liked and most watched ad of the most lucrative night of the American television. A lot of trailers for those ads are introduced a few days before the game but Skittles, this candy brand, chose to do otherwise to create a buzz. The advertisement that was only made for the occasion has only been viewed by one and only lucky viewer.
The rest of the world has to wait until Feb. 4. The mystery is complete – Skittles received the title of “the most exclusive advertisement of the Super Bowl”.

The pop culture

At first, the half-time show was the opportunity to promote US university bands. Since 1990, pop artists have been performing during the Pepsi half-time show.
Among those artists: Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Madonna or Beyoncé.

A few artists perform before the game and during the half-time show. This year, the singer Pink will have the honor to sing the national anthem, the Star - Spangled Banner.

The Pepsi half-time show is a tradition and this year Justin Timberlake will be performing for the third time. The last time the former member of the NSYNC was there was in 2004, with Janet Jackson. It’s one of the most famous half-time shows of the Super Bowl because of the “Nipplegate” scandal: JT accidentally ripped off Janet’s clothes, revealing her breast.

Last year, Lady Gaga performed. The NFL saw it as the most watched musical show of all time, while the audience rate ranked it as the second best audience of the show.

Super Bowl LII

On the NFL Official website, a countdown… 7 days left until the big game between the Philadelphia Eagles and last year’s winners the New England Patriots in Minneapolis.

If the Patriots win, they’ll become the first team to win twice for the second time in a row.. They won the Super Bowl XXXVIII and the Super Bowl XXXIX.

Last time the two teams met in the championship final was in 2005. Patriots won 24-21. It was also the last time the Eagles reached the Super Bowl. No need to say the pressure is rising. The bets are off!

For you, which team is to win the most wanted trophy of the Super Bowl 52?

Where to go to watch the Super Bowl in Brussels?

This Sunday, gather your friends and head to one of the many bars of the capital of Europe that broadcasts the Big Game.

The game starts at 12:30 pm Belgian hour.

Here’s BrusselsLife selection of bars:

Hard Rock Café Brussels welcomes you from 11 pm for a night 100% USA, as if you were there. A program of one real American show: US decoration, hamburgers, DJ and cheerleaders. All those in addition of the broadcasting of the sporting event of the year with the pop star Justin Timberlake and the football star Tom Brady!

The first 5 persons who arrive dressed up as an American football player will receive a wristband for “unlimited Carlsberg draft beer” during the entire evening. Big Game Package : 59.95€ per person – including chicken wings and a Legendary Burger of your choice (served before midnight), 5 beers or 5 glasses of wine, midnight snacks and brownie squares after 3rd Quarter. Book your tickets NOW! Rendezvous at the Hard Rock Café at Grand-Place to spend an UNFORGETTABLE evening!

The American club Brussels organizes the Brussels Super Bowl Party at the Renaissance Hotel from 7 pm. Games, interviews, jerseys and merchandises from your favorite NFL teams,... The game will be broadcasted on a giant Big Screen for easy view. More information HERE.

Fat Boy’s Sports Bar & Grill
To follow the game in this bar at Place du Lux, booking is mandatory. All screens will broadcast the Super Bowl LII, in a NFL atmosphere and decoration. If you’re hungry, hamburgers and chicken wings are served! Game on!

Michael Collins
Head uptown to the Chatelain neighborhood to follow the game at Michael Collins. Clovers on the doors and windows of the pub might bring luck to your favorite team.

The Big Game Brussels
The Big Game just had to broadcast the… Big game at all cost. Rendezvous in the temple of the world sport for all sport fans!

C.H.