Why 1 Major Brand Won’t Have a Super Bowl Commercial for the First Time in Decades
The stage is set for Super Bowl LV which will be a matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Feb. 7. There are plenty of storylines going into the big game like the Buccaneers being the first team to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium or the Chiefs possibly repeating to win back-to-back championships or if Tom Brady could be playing his last NFL game. While those stories are intriguing for football fans, millions are really tuning in for the commercials.
But this year is unlike any other in so many ways and a change viewers will notice is a company known for making some of the most iconic Super Bowl commercials ever won’t be airing one for its well-known product.
Many of the most iconic Super Bowl commercials are from this brand
Even those who are tuning in more for the action on the field don’t mind being entertained during the commercials as well.
Over the years there have been quite a few iconic Super Bowl commercials. Some are side-splitting funny and others you can’t stop talking about the next day. And many have come from Anheuser-Busch’s Budweiser ads but this year you won’t see any of those popular and heartwarming commercials. This will be the first time since 1983 that the parent company won’t have a Budweiser ad.
NewsRadio 1120 KMOX reported that commercials for the company’s other brands like Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and its new seltzers will be featured during the game just none with the famous Budweiser Clydesdales.
Why the brand won’t have an ad during the game this year
So why won’t we be seeing Clydesdales and puppies this year?
“We have a pandemic that is casting a pall over just about everything,” said Paul Argenti, Dartmouth College professor of corporate communication. “It’s hard to feel the exuberance and excitement people normally would. It’s a tough year to do an ad. It will be a good year for creative companies who figure out how to thread that needle.”
The more than $5 million spent on a Budweiser commercial will be donated to coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination awareness efforts.
Anheuser-Busch isn’t the only company to pull out of advertising for some products during this year’s game. Coke, Audi, and Avocados from Mexico have all opted out of having an ad air. Pepsi isn’t airing a commercial either but the company is still the official sponsor of the halftime show.
Another reason viewers tune in has nothing to do with football
While the commercials are a huge draw, the Super Bowl halftime show is another reason those who don’t have a rooting interest tune in to the game.
This year recording artist The Weeknd is set to take the stage. The average Super Bowl runs about 3 hours and 45 minutes while the halftime show is only about 13 minutes. Therefore, fans traveling to Tampa Bay solely to see The Weeknd perform are paying a hefty price to do so. According to Gametime, the average ticket price for a seat at Raymond James Stadium that evening is $16,400 and the most expensive are going for more than $38,000 each.
