The parties to watch the Super Bowl, with lots of food and lots of beer, usually take a toll, as the game also ends past 10 pm for those living on the East Coast of the United States. That is why a record number of people plan to skip work this Monday after the game between the Eagles and the Chiefs.
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That's why that day is known as Super Bowl Monday or Super Sick Monday.
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According to USA Today, a survey conducted by The Harris Poll for The Workforce Institute of UKG reveals that 22.6 million people are planning not to go to their workplaces the day after the Super Bowl, which represents a 40% increase compared to the previous year. The research was based on responses from 1,220 employees over 18 years old collected between January 16 and 21.
Only 2% of those surveyed admitted that they would report an illness as an excuse, while another 2% stated that they would simply "disappear" without prior notice.
The Monday after the Super Bowl is, by far, the day with the most work absences in the United States.
An event where a lot of food is eaten
The game not only generates excitement among American football fans. For some, the main attraction is the commercials, while others are looking forward to Kendrick Lamar's halftime show.
Moreover, the relationship between Travis Kelce, star of the Chiefs, and Taylor Swift, has sparked the interest of a new group of fans. According to the survey, 16.1 million Swift fans intend to watch the game this year, compared to 11.2 million in 2024.
The event is usually seen in lavish parties with a lot of food.
The favorite food for the Super Bowl is chicken wings, and for this Sunday, it is expected that in the United States, an impressive amount of 1.47 billion chicken wings will be consumed (yes, you read that right, one billion four hundred seventy million). These figures are provided by the National Chicken Council, which anticipates a 1.5% increase compared to last year.
Also, 88 million pounds of cheese (40,000 tons) will be consumed, 325.5 million gallons of beer (1.23 billion liters) will be drunk, 14,500 tons of French fries will be consumed, 3.8 million pounds of popcorn will be devoured, and 12.5 million pizzas will be ordered.
With all of this, it is estimated that on game day, Americans spend $14.8 billion on food and drinks.
Is the Monday after the Super Bowl a national holiday?
The Harris Poll study also revealed that 12.9 million people officially requested the day off in advance, while 4.8 million will swap shifts with colleagues to avoid working on Monday.
Since 2017, more than a dozen petitions on Change.org have urged Congress, the NFL, and even the president to declare the Monday after the Super Bowl a national holiday.
While Super Bowl Monday is not yet an official holiday, the idea could materialize in the future. Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner, has considered extending the regular season to 18 games, which would move the game to Presidents’ Day weekend, allowing most Americans to enjoy a day off on Monday without the need for legislative changes.