Gen Z shows the least interest in the Super Bowl

In 2020, just 35% of Gen Z adults tuned in to watch the Super Bowl LIV. Image: AFP/TIMOTHY A. CLARY.

The Super Bowl seems to be less popular among 18 to 23-year-olds. Generation Z is the least interested generation in this major event in the American football calendar. In fact, just 27% of Gen Z adults said that they were “very likely” to tune in to the Super Bowl LV, compared to 43% of millennials.

The 55th Super Bowl is set to be held Feb. 7 in Tampa, Florida. This final game will close the 2020 season of the National Football League, deciding the league champion. Each year, the event draws over 100 million television viewers, but the hype surrounding this legendary game seems to be losing steam with Gen Z, according to a survey from Morning Consult.

In fact, just 27% of Gen Z adults said that they were “very likely” to tune in to the final on the big day, while 24% said they were “somewhat likely” to watch. This stands in contrast to older generations, with 43% of Millennials “very likely” to tune in on Feb. 7, as well as 40% of Gen X adults and 36% of baby boomers, according to the survey, which polled 2,200 American adults from Dec. 10 to Dec. 13, 2020. All in all, 60% of adults, across all generations, said they plan to watch the eagerly awaited NFL final.

Already in 2020, 18 to 23-year-olds were less likely to tune into the game. Just 35% of them watched that year’s NFL final, compared to half of all adults. In fact, 54% of millennials, 51% of Generation X and 52% of baby boomers tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami, Florida, broadcast on the FOX network.

Interest in American football on TV seems to be gradually declining over time for all generations; while viewership was slightly up last year compared to 2019, it has been edging down over the last four years. Could this be a direct consequence of wider attitudes and policies within the NFL, which, for a long time has been called out on its failure to take a stance against racial injustice, amplified by the anti-racism movements of June 2020?

NFL player Colin Kaepernick already felt the consequences of that in 2016. After taking the knee to protest against racism in the U.S., the American player was sidelined by the league and ended up filing a grievance against the NFL.

This year the Weeknd is scheduled to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. In 2020, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira took to the stage to keep fans entertained. CC

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