The Super Bowl returns Feb. 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, showcasing a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 title game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. This year’s showdown, highlighted by a halftime performance from Grammy-winning artist Kendrick Lamar, is expected to draw a massive global audience, building on the 210 million viewers of the 2024 game.
Rice University experts are available to provide insights on the Super Bowl’s multifaceted appeal from advertising strategies and business impacts to other related topics like athlete preparation, cybersecurity and nutrition.
Business issues and ticket prices
The Super Bowl is renowned for its ticket prices with average costs for 2025 estimated at $9,500. Tom Stallings, professor in the practice of sport management, offers insights into sports business strategies, ticket sales and cause marketing.
“The Super Bowl is not just a cultural phenomenon that is as close to a national holiday as any American sporting event can be, but it is also a must-see sporting event that makes it so attractive for advertisers,” Stallings said. “Almost no one records the game and watches it later, so it presents a unique opportunity for advertising to deliver a customized message to any potential consumer in the United States and throughout the world in real time.”
Sports betting and probability
The Chiefs are the early betting odds favorite, according to BetMGM. Frederi Viens, professor of statistics, can comment on probability and statistics related to sports betting on the Super Bowl.
Athlete performance and preparation
Anatolia Vick-Kregel, senior assistant director of health and well-being, focuses on injury prevention, athlete recovery and performance, turf vs. grass field safety and postgame recovery techniques and understands the science behind football’s high demands on the body.
“Mitigating noncontact injuries in professional football is a multifaceted challenge that has garnered significant attention recently,” Vick-Kregel said. “A combination of targeted exercise programs, neuromuscular training, diligent load management and comprehensive prevention frameworks is essential for the players.”
Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity
Advancements in AI and cybersecurity play a critical role in ensuring the safety of the 2025 Super Bowl. Anshumali Shrivastava, associate professor of computer science, electrical and computer engineering and statistics, delves into AI’s role in countering cyberthreats.
“Leveraging AI to safeguard data privacy and operational security is essential in an era of increasing digital interconnectedness,” Shrivastava said.
Nutrition for elite athletes
Roberta Anding, lecturer of nutrition and health sciences and a former sports dietitian for the Houston Texans, can discuss the specialized dietary and hydration strategies required by high-performing athletes.
“Proper nutrition and hydration are game changers, enabling athletes to sustain their peak performance throughout the competition,” Anding said.
To schedule an interview with any of Rice’s experts on Super Bowl-related topics, contact Marcy de Luna, media relations specialist, at marcy.deluna@rice.edu; Amy McCaig, senior media relations specialist, at amym@rice.edu; or Andrew Bell, media relations specialist, at andrew.bell@rice.edu.