The Rise in the Cost of A Super Bowl Commercial (2024)

Super Bowl Sunday has become an unofficial national holiday in the United States. Football fans — casual or die-hard gather around the television with their favorite foods and snacks – and check out the commercials.

Since the first Super Bowl in 1967, the game has grown exponentially and become a gold mine for potential advertisers.

Besides the game’s enormous reach, it’s the one day of the year when advertisers are guaranteed consumers will watch their commercials. Many casual fans watch more for the funny, celebrity-filled spots than the football.

Over the years, Super Bowl commercials have become one of the most highly anticipated parts of a Super Bowl broadcast. In today’s fragmented media environment, advertisers take advantage of having the exclusive attention of potentially over 100 million viewers. Companies try their best to be one of the most remembered, but some companies flop in their effort to reach consumers.

The first 30-second ad for Super Bowl I between the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs cost $42,500. With inflation adjustments, it would have cost $372,390.34.

Rising Costs

Super Bowl in-game ad spots first cracked the $1 million mark in 1995. This year, brand marketers will pay a record $7 million ($233,333 per second) for in-game spots during Fox Sports’ telecast of Super Bowl 57 on Feb. 12.

That’s just for airtime. It doesn’t count the millions in production costs or the big-money fees paid to top directors.

The broadcast networks are smiling at the bank. Last year’s Super Bowl between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams (98.18 million viewers) generated over $578 million in in-game commercial revenue for NBC, according to research firm Kantar — an excellent return on investment for the networks and their combined 11-year, $110 billion media rights deal, completed in 2021.

Commercial Cost Over Years

YearCostToday’s Cost*
1967$42,500$372,390.34
1970$78,000$588,327.06
1975$107,000$582,046.19
1980$222,000$788,463.71
1985$525,000$1,427,917.05 million
1990$700,000$1,567,394.80 million
1995$1.2 million$2,304,370.08 million
2000$2 million$3,399,012.78 million
2005$2.4 million$3,718,221.28 million
2010$3 million$4,026,328.10 million
2015$4.25 million$5,247,656.29 million
2021$5.5 million$5,940,150.20 million
2022$6.5 million
2023$7 million
The Rise in the Cost of A Super Bowl Commercial (2024)

FAQs

Why are Super Bowl commercials so expensive? ›

Another possible reason for the higher price of Super Bowl ads can be attributed to a strong economy, Liaukonyte said, noting that the supply of ad slots is mostly kept constant over time, so prices increase when there is more demand from companies who want a spot.

What was the cost of a commercial for the Super Bowl? ›

Super Bowl LIV, 2020 – $5.6 million. Super Bowl LV, 2021 – $5.5 milllion. Super Bowl LVI, 2022 – $6.5 million. Super Bowl LVII, 2023 – $7 million.

How do Super Bowl commercials affect the economy? ›

The economic impact of Super Bowl ads extends beyond the advertisers and the broadcasting network. The ripple effects benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including production companies, marketing firms, social media platforms, and even the host city, which enjoys increased tourism and hospitality revenues.

Is $7 million for 30 seconds worth it at the Super Bowl? ›

Conclusion: The worth of $7 million for 30 seconds 💸

Super Bowl ads offer marketers a wide-reaching platform despite financial scrutiny, providing short-term benefits like market share boosts. For media conglomerates like Fox and Paramount, the Super Bowl rejuvenates TV segment revenues with its massive viewership.

Are Super Bowl ads worth the cost? ›

A 30-second Super Bowl ad now costs $7 million, up from $2.4 million two decades ago, but it's never been more worth the money, The New York Times writes. Advertisers now rely on live events to reach large audiences, as ad-free streaming renders traditional television ads less effective.

Why Super Bowl ads aren t worth it? ›

For most companies, buying Super Bowl ads wouldn't be a good idea even at a fraction of the price. Super Bowl ads have massive reach, but if your brand is already well-known, an investment for the sake of greater name recognition may not be worth it. Brands would want to offset the cost of the ad through higher sales.

What was the cheapest ticket for Super Bowl 2024? ›

The service put the lowest-priced tickets at $8,333 on Sunday. How much is a suite for the 2024 Super Bowl? CBSSports.com reports that a 20-person suite at this year's game would have run you a cool $1.8 million, including the cost of tickets as well as food and alcoholic beverages.

Who gets the money from the Super Bowl ads? ›

In fact, much of the money generated by the Super Bowl is pocketed by the NFL, according to Edwards. While broadcast partners make millions of dollars in advertising, the NFL has several sources of revenue related to the Super Bowl.

What is the most expensive commercial in the Super Bowl? ›

The most expensive Super Bowl commercial ever was a tie between the Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant commercials during the 2020 Super Bowl. They were both 90 seconds long and cost $16.8 million each.

What is the #1 Super Bowl food? ›

#1- Wings. According to the National Chicken Council, 1.45 billion chicken wings are expected to be consumed for Super Bowl Sunday. They're an easy, shareable food item that comes in many different options, such as garlic parmesan, lemon pepper, cajun, and many many more.

Why Super Bowl ads are important? ›

With every Super Bowl, business leaders can become the brand consumers root for. Super Bowl commercials provide a unique and colossal opportunity to capture the attention of tens of millions of people who are not only exposed to the commercials but also look forward to them.

What is the number one Super Bowl food? ›

"But what are people ordering for their Super Bowl watch parties?" is a question you may ask yourself because you're looking to create a game day menu. The three most popular Super Bowl dishes people order are pizza, chicken wings, and chips with dips.

How much money do Super Bowl losers get? ›

Players on the losing team will get $89,000. That's $7,000 more than last year's Super Bowl bonus. In the first Super Bowl back in 1967, players on the winning team received $15,000 and the losing team got $7,500.

How much does a 1 minute Super Bowl cost? ›

Most advertisers opt for a more extensive minute-long advert for Super Bowl Sunday, meaning that the cost of their 60-second production will be $13 million to $14 million.

Do halftime show performers get paid? ›

Do Super Bowl halftime performers get paid? Despite the euphoria surrounding the event, entertainers do not get paid to play the Super Bowl. At least not what they usually make. They only make union scale for the performances, according to AZ Central, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.

Why does ad time cost around $7 million for just one 30-second ad? ›

There is a very limited supply of commercial air time that gets 90,000,000 viewers. There is a lot of demand for commercial air time that gets that many viewers. Thus companies are willing to pay a lot of money for that air time.

How much does $1 second of a Super Bowl commercial cost? ›

To put that into perspective, it cost roughly $233,333 per-second for a Super Bowl ad slot in 2024. The average price tag hit $1 million by the mid-90s. According to USA TODAY Ad Meter, the average cost was $4 million a decade ago - meaning those ad prices have jumped 75% since then.

How much does a 30-second Super Bowl ad cost? ›

A 30-second spot to air during the 2024 Super Bowl costs $7 million : NPR. A 30-second spot to air during the 2024 Super Bowl costs $7 million It's the same price tag as last year, but over 200% more from 20 years ago.

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