Every year, Super Bowl fans gather on a Sunday in February to watch the biggest game of the season. Many have wondered- why not Saturday? Wouldn’t it be easier for fans who have work the next day?
The NFL has never strayed from this tradition since the first game on January 15, 1967. It’s not a coincidence- it’s all about TV ratings, business strategy, and history.
The NFL Prioritizes TV Ratings
The biggest reason the Super Bowl is played on Sunday is simple: TV ratings. In a 2018 interview, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear that audience size drives the decision.
“The reason we haven’t done it in the past is simply just from an audience standpoint. The audiences on Sunday night are so much larger. Fans want to have the best opportunity to be able to see the game and we want to give that to them, so Sunday night is a better night.”
After years of hearing complaints from fans, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is considering moving the Super Bowl so it falls on the Sunday during the three-day Presidents Day holiday weekend. @KayleeHartung reports on the possibility. pic.twitter.com/Monh2PgrPQ
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 29, 2024
The numbers back this up. Super Bowl LVII drew a record-breaking 115 million viewers, making it the most-watched Super Bowl and the most-watched television event in U.S. history. Sunday nights attract larger audiences, which means higher advertising revenue and more engagement. The NFL isn’t going to change something that guarantees more eyeballs and dollars.
Moving To Saturday Isn’t Good For Business
Many fans have pushed for a Saturday Super Bowl, arguing that it would make life easier for those who have work the next day. A 2023 Workforce Institute survey found that 18.1 million employees planned to miss work on Monday, with 3 million admitting they would fake being sick. Another 4.7 million intended to skip work without notifying their employer.
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Despite this, the NFL refuses to budge. A study by Sportsbook Review found that moving the game to Saturday could reduce consumer spending by 20-45%. Saturday is a more active day for people- many go out to restaurants, bars, or other entertainment venues. The Super Bowl thrives on a captive audience, and Sunday night provides precisely that. Fewer distractions mean more people watching at home, leading to higher viewership and ad revenue.
Also Read: How Long Is The Super Bowl Halftime Show? A Look At The Longest Halftime Performance In History
The Historical Link Between Sports And Sundays
Football and Sundays have a long-standing connection. In the early 1900s, playing professional sports on Sundays was actually considered disrespectful. Some states even had laws banning games on Sundays. In 1917, managers of the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds were arrested for violating these rules.
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— MAZI VS | SBK 🏈⚾️🏒🏀 (@MaziSBK) January 27, 2025
Over time, these restrictions faded, and Sundays became prime real estate for televised sports. The NFL built its brand around Sunday matchups, making it the day football fans associate with the game. The tradition is strong, and the league sees no reason to disrupt a schedule that has worked for decades.
Could Presidents’ Day Weekend Be A Compromise?
Some have suggested moving the Super Bowl to Presidents’ Day weekend, which would give many workers a federal holiday on Monday. This could reduce the number of people missing work and ease the complaints about post-Super Bowl fatigue. However, the NFL has never seriously entertained this idea.
For now, the league is sticking to what works. The audience is larger, the revenue is higher, and the schedule aligns with how football has always been structured. Fans may grumble about going to work the next day, but keeping the game on Sunday is simply the best business decision for the NFL.
Also Read: Super Bowl Ad Costs: What’s The Price Of A Commercial This Year?
