Soccer is very big in the United States and proof of this is that the Superbowl has surpassed the Olympics as the most anticipated sporting event on this side of the globe. That statement may be up for debate, but many things will support this statement. The players of the National Football League (NFL) and their teams are proper names that are recognizable even by children and some of their players have appeared in movies and television by appearing in cameo roles.

It’s not uncommon for kids to answer “I want to be an NFL player” when asked what they want to be when they grow up, and adults aren’t shy about admitting that they also dream of becoming NFL stars. The NFL has become a brand unto itself with a logo that is familiar to millions of people around the world, including sports fans.

The Superbowl is also known as the Oscars of the advertising world and because of this it has attracted big brands to invest millions if not billions of dollars in a 30 second exposure during the Superbowl. Advertising agencies agree that the Superbowl is the only place you would want to launch your new ad or campaign because of the number of people watching and because the next day the media will be reviewing what they saw.

One of the brands and advertising agencies that has been a fixture at the Superbowl is BBDO with its Pepsi ads. They admit that it takes months and quite a few teams and presentations before they can pick up that big ad. Some of the most popular commercials that became Superbowl hits are the ones featuring big stars like Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.

Even the Superbowl halftime show is something to watch out for. In this area, it’s the entertainment industry’s turn to do its eulogies and rants the next day. Remember the poop in Janet Jackson’s eyes fiasco? Well, only at Superbowl!

Big stars like Justin Timberlake and bands like U2 and the Rolling Stones are just three of the artists who have appeared at Superbowl halftime. So when it comes to NFL Superbowl fever, you need to be a part of it even by buying NFL merchandise. Wearing an NFL jersey or cap will immediately make you feel like you’re part of the fanfare, even without picking a team to root for.