Ah, the Super Bowl!
That glorious Sunday where fans rally around television screens and rivals duke it out on the field. But which states are truly head over heels for this annual showdown?
With the Kansas City Chiefs preparing to face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, we stepped into the stats and found out who takes the trophy in Super Bowl obsession.
Utilizing an Obsession Score, we’ve ranked the states on a scale of 100. With weighted criteria, each state’s passion is mapped out by their interest in the Super Bowl, searches for Super Bowl tickets, and interest in Super Bowl parties— each accounting for 30% of the score.
Adding to the mix, the number of Super Bowl watch parties on Eventbrite, recorded as of January 22, 2025, contributes the final 10%. Using data from Google Keyword Planner, search volume per 100,000 people gives us fair play across the board.
Time to huddle up and explore which states live and breathe Super Bowl fever.
When it comes to Super Bowl mania, Nevada scores a touchdown!
Sitting pretty with an impressive (rounded) Obsession Score of 72, Nevada proves it's the king of the gridiron fandom. With 3,254 searches per 100K for "Super Bowl", and 248 for those coveted tickets, Nevada goes all in on the action. Throw in a dozen events listed on Eventbrite, and you see a state ready to light up the night with Super Bowl festivities.
Nevada’s affinity for all things exciting, from casinos to nightlife, undoubtedly bolsters its fervor. Whether it’s the drama on the field or the thrill of a successful bet, Nevada is the state we found to be most obsessed with the Super Bowl.
Missouri makes a strong play for second place with an Obsession Score of 50. As the home of the Kansas City Chiefs, and known for its die-hard sports fans, Missouri musters 2,788 Super Bowl searches per 100K and isn't shy about its passion with 86 searches for tickets. 37 Super Bowl party searches and 5 watch parties on Eventbrite cement its place in the top tier of enthusiastic states.
Missouri’s sports culture runs deep, and the Super Bowl only amplifies this fervor. The state’s ranking is undoubtedly driven by the success of Kansas City Chiefs, and their chance to three-peat.
Coming in hot, Delaware and Kansas are almost neck and neck in third and fourth, with scores of 45 and 44.96 respectively. Delaware’s lofty 4,054 Super Bowl searches per 100K signal sky-high interest, but with no watch parties listed, the social buzz remains surprisingly low-key. Kansas, on the other hand, balances the scales with strong ticket and party searches, though physical gatherings lag behind.
Utah deftly slides into fifth with a score of 43, showing consistent interest across all Super Bowl aspects, albeit with just one recorded watch party. Colorado follows closely behind in sixth, buoyed by a formidable search presence and 11 listed parties. Not to be outdone, California claims seventh but distinguishes itself by hosting a whopping 51 watch parties—talk about bringing the community together!
Meanwhile, Virginia and Illinois are tied for eighth, each showcasing an admirable commitment to Super Bowl enthusiasm. Finally, Nebraska closes out the top ten, strong on search but short on in-person action with just a lone watch party.
Now, you might be asking, “How did we figure all this out?” Well, here’s the play-by-play breakdown.
Objective: Determine the state that takes the Super Bowl spirit to heart. Our “Obsession Score” ranks states based on a concoction of internet searches and live event enthusiasm.
Interest in the Super Bowl tops the list, representing a solid 30% of our score as searches like "Super Bowl 2025" pulse through the data. Interest in Tickets and Super Bowl Parties, also weighing 30% each, measure the level of anticipation leading up to game day. And then there’s the real-world aspect: Super Bowl Watch Parties, tracked via Eventbrite, offering a human touch at 10%.
To ensure fairness, search data was scaled to population size, letting us level the playing field. While Eventbrite might not catch every festivity out there, it gives us a reliable snapshot of the party scene. This blend of virtual and physical metrics reveals a broader tapestry of excitement where states’ Super Bowl fervor is placed front and center.
So, whether your state clinched the top spot or not, the Super Bowl remains that electrifying day where America’s love for football is on full display. And one thing's for sure—it’s a celebration of sport like no other!
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Better Collective.