After 21 weeks and 271 total games, the Super Bowl is finally upon us with just two teams left standing.
On Sunday, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs will take on Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
And like millions around the world you are probably where you can watch it and how?
But for others the Super Bowl is the perfect blend of sportsbiz, with fans simply in it for the famed adverts, movies trailers and even a potential Taylor Swift sighting.
Some may not even be aware of who will be carrying out this year’s half-time show, following Rihanna’s performance will be a tough ask.
Brock Purdy has quarterbacked the San Francisco 49ers offence masterfully on their way to the Super Bowl
Patrick Mahomes, as ever, has been a top performer in the league helping the Cheifs make their fourth Super Bowl appearance in the last five years
But fear not, Mail Sport has all the information you need about this Sunday’s spectacle.
Who is playing in Super Bowl LVIII?
As mentioned before this year’s Super Bowl will be contested by the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of LIV that saw the former win 31-20.
The Chiefs represent the closest thing to a dynasty in the last few years, led by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes they have made four of the last five Super Bowls, winning two in the process.
While many will focus on Mahomes and Kelce and quite rightly so, there Cheifs possess one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL this season in L’Jarius Sneed, and he could be an X-Factor against the offence of the 49ers.
Brock Purdy quarterbacks that star studded offence that boasts George Kittle, Brandon Ayiuk, Deebo Samuel and MVP candidate, running back Christian McCaffrey.
But they are just stacked on the defensive side of the ball, they pose the most fearsome linebacking duo in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw and their front-seven is rounded out with the likes of Chase Young, Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead.
Where will it be played?
Allegiant Stadium will host the Super Bowl in it’s state-of-the-art stadium that opened in 2020
The stadium includes a retractable grass pitch that can be wheeled outside to help the growth and health of the playing surface
This year’s showcase will emanate from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home of the Raiders. The stadium opened in 2020 boasts a capacity of 65,000 for NFL games.
Last year saw much talk about the field conditions as players struggled to maintain their footing but that shouldn’t be too much of an issue this year. The natural grass field is rolled into and out of the stadium to maximise the sunlight it receives when not in use.
There is also an artificial turf field available though that is used by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels NCAA football team.
What time will the Chiefs and 49ers kick-off?
The opening kick-off is expected to take place at 3:30pm PST/6:30pm EST, that would make it 11:30pm for fans in the UK and 10:30am for those hoping to watch in .
There will of course be the usual pageantry before the match gets underway including the performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing by Andra Day. The announcement receiving backlash on social media.
The Star Spangled Banner, the national anthem of America will also be performed by Reba McEntire before kick-off this year.
How can I watch the Super Bowl?
It looks incredibly difficult for fans to get the authentic, in stadium experience. Tickets have long since been sold out and the cheapest available ticket on resale is around $5,500 dollars.
But for those happy to settle in and watch on TV in the UK, the game will be broadcast on free-to-air ITV1 or for paying customers on Sky Sports NFL. You can also watch via the NFL’s streaming service Gamepass via DAZN.
Those in America will find the game broadcasted by CBS, meaning that insights will be provided by former NFL quarterback Tony Romo. Nickelodeon is also showing the game, which will provide viewers with plenty of colourful overlays including slimings.
Meanwhile those in will be able to watch via Seven Network.
What’s the latest on Taylor Swift’s status?
There may be a lot of focus on the on-field action, but many will certainly be tuning in hoping for a sighting of Taylor Swift cheering on her boyfriend Travis Kelce
You’d be hard pressed to have missed the budding relationship between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and pop superstar Taylor Swift.
While many Taylor Swift fans will be tuning into the Super Bowl in hopes of seeing the music phenom, it remains to be seen whether she can actually make the game.
Swift will be on her global tour, this time in Tokyo, on Saturday evening and while it may take longer for the average person, a direct flight is around 10 hours 30 minutes.
Who is the half-time show?
R&B icon Usher will be this year’s half-time show, and he won’t be getting paid for the privilege
Another draw that unites the more casual viewer with the hardcore football fan is the half-time show.
Throughout the history of the event there has been some truly iconic performances by some of music’s biggest icons, including the likes of Michael Jackson, Prince, Dr Dre and who can possible forget Rihanna’s surprising pregnancy reveal during last year’s match.
This year, hoping to add his name onto the iconic list is R&B superstar Usher. The world renowned artist may not be getting paid for his performance but the showman can certainly leave a lasting impression.
How much does an ad cost?
Many will be aware of the phenomenon that is a Super Bowl advert, with many brands chosing the NFL’s showpiece event to bring out their biggest and best.
Laden with superstars and entertainment, a 30-second TV spot is expected to cost around $7million.
And while outlay is hefty, a wapping 115million people watched last year across all American platforms, so it is easy the cost is worth the eyeballs.
How much money does a winning player receive?
Each player on the winning team will receive a bonus of $164,000 with the losing team’s players set to make around half of that.
A hefty sum for what has been a long season on their way to ultimate success for both sets of players.