Every February, the Super Bowl becomes one of the most anticipated sports events of the year. Its impact goes beyond American football fans, capturing the attention of millions of people around the world.
This event defines the NFL champion and has become a huge spectacle that combines sports, entertainment, and popular culture.
Why are Roman numerals used for the Super Bowl?
One of the aspects that makes the Super Bowl unique is the way each edition is numbered. Unlike other sports tournaments or finals that use conventional numbers, the Super Bowl uses Roman numerals, a tradition that has remained for decades. This year, for example, the Super Bowl LIX will be held, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles against the Kansas City Chiefs, which may spark curiosity about the origin of this practice.
The history behind the Roman numerals in the Super Bowl dates back to the early years of the event. In 1971, when the fifth edition was played, the decision was made to adopt this form of numbering.
Lamar Hunt, founder of the AFL and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, was the one who proposed this idea with the aim of giving a more sophisticated and distinctive touch to the championship. Additionally, there was a practical reason behind the decision: the NFL regular season starts in the fall of one year and concludes with the Super Bowl in the following year, which could lead to confusion when referring to the corresponding edition.
Thanks to Roman numerals, each Super Bowl is easily identifiable without any doubts about the exact year it is played. This choice has helped build an iconic identity for the event, which over time has grown in popularity to become a global phenomenon.
Over the years, the tradition has only been interrupted once. In Super Bowl 50, held in 2016, the decision was made to use the Arabic numeral instead of the traditional "L" for aesthetic and marketing reasons. However, the practice of using Roman numerals returned the following year and has continued without interruptions.
Beyond the historical significance or the logic behind their implementation, Roman numerals have brought a distinctive character to the Super Bowl.
This tradition has allowed each edition to be perceived as an epic event, reinforcing the greatness of the game that defines the NFL champion and keeping alive the legacy of an event that continues to evolve with each season.