Back in 1920 the NFL kicked off, but the Super Bowl saga didn’t start until four decades later. In 1960, a bunch of business types wanted NFL franchises, but they said "achana na mimi" to that idea and launched the AFL (American Football League) instead. For years, AFL and NFL were duking it out for talent and fans, until they shook hands in 1970 and merged.
The very first championship showdown happened on 15/01/1967 at the Memorial Coliseum—Kansas City Chiefs (AFL) versus Green Bay Packers (NFL). Tickets back then went for about KSh 1,560 on average. Around 61,000 fans turned up, and the Packers ran away with a 35–10 win. NBC and CBS both beamed the game live as the AFL-NFL World Championship. A few years later the event got its catchy name: the Super Bowl.
From Packers to Underdog Upsets
Super Bowl II in 1968 saw the Packers beat the Oakland Raiders 33–14. Many folks thought AFL teams couldn’t hang with NFL powerhouses—until 16/01/1969. That’s when the New York Jets shocked everyone by beating the Baltimore Colts 16–7. Boom, major upset. After the 1970 merger, the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers ruled the decade.
And let’s not forget the half-time show evolution: early spectacles featured astronauts, military drills and marching bands. Fast forward, and you’ve got pop stars, rock bands and Broadway singers grabbing the spotlight. No wonder a 30-second Super Bowl commercial cost roughly KSh 650 million in 2016—making it the priciest ad spot in US sports TV.