Why is the Superbowl such a big deal?

The Superbowl is the biggest sports event of the year in the United States. It is the championship game between the two top two teams in the National Football Conference (NFL).  Watching the Superbowl has become  a big part of American culture. Even people who are not fans of the two teams or don't like  football at all,  have been found attending a party or watching the big game. So what is the big deal?  I think there are three main reasons for this phenomena.

1. ONLY ONE GAME
All other major sports championships in the U.S. (MLB, NBA,NHL) are played over a series of games. The champions are the first team to win four games (out of a maximum of seven).  Unlike the other leagues, the NFL only plays one game a week due since the players need  time to recover from the physical demands of each game. Since so much rides on the game, the   What were last year's ratings? What are the ratings of past Superbowls?

2.  THE COMMERCIALS
Because so many people are watching the Superbowl, major corporations pays millions of dollars to advertise during the game. Many people tune into the Superbowl just to watch the ads. and there is much discussion leading up to the game and after concerning what was the most unique or effective commercial.
How much is a 30 second ad this year? 

3. THE TIME OF YEAR
The regular season of the NFL lasts from September to December and it is followed by at least three weeks of the playoffs. This means that the championship game is usually the last week of January or the first week of February, right smack in the middle of winter. Since winter can be very long and gray in many parts of the United States, people are excited to have any distraction from the colder temperatures.  Honestly, some people look for any reason to throw a party. Most Superbowls  have been held in warm weather climates.  What is different about the 2014 Superbowl? 

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