Trade on Who Will Attend the Super Bowl: Odds for Lionel Messi, Elon Musk, Taylor Swift, and more
By Paul Lebowitz in Entertainment
Published:
- Super Bowl LX is set with the upstart Patriots battling the hard-hitting Seahawks
- The Super Bowl is always a global (if not interstellar) phenomenon with a myriad of stars from all genres set to attend
- Prediction markets allow users to trade on odds for which prominent figures will be in attendance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA
The Super Bowl grows in its reach every single year. It has expanded from an exhibition with a preordained outcome in Super Bowl I to the center of the universe in Super Bowl LX. And it’s only getting bigger. In that first Super Bowl before the NFL-AFL merger, the NFL’s Packers led by Vince Lombardi played the AFL’s Chiefs.
The AFL was still considered to be second class with Lombardi at the forefront of dismissing its challenge to NFL supremacy. The on-field result was predictable with a Packers 35-10 blowout. The stadium was not filled to capacity and the game was shown on two channels simultaneously to mostly indifferent reviews.
It was only when Joe Namath’s Jets, of all teams, beat the Don Shula-led Colts in Super Bowl III that the AFL was taken seriously as a competitor and the plans for a merger, already in place, went into overdrive.
Now, the world stops for the Super Bowl. Those looking to capitalize on it by selling their products and services to coincide with it refer to it as “The Big Game” in a wink and nod agreement with the NFL. Commercials become something to look forward to, in many instances for non-football fans, far more than the game. The halftime show is fodder for social media madness from the personal and political perspective. And a key part of the pageantry is which celebrities from entertainment, business, politics, and sports will attend.
Who Will be at the Super Bowl?
As the Super Bowl approaches, prediction markets are speculating which recognizable figures will be in attendance. This is probably one of the most diverse groups imaginable for any event. Overt partisanship will be limited to rooting for the Patriots (or against them, out of habit) or the Seahawks.
Some of the recognizable names available on the markets include the following:
Jason Kelce
The “other” Kelce who is frequently overshadowed by his brother (guy named Travis; engaged to some pop star), cobbled out a future Pro Football Hall of Fame career as a center for the Eagles. As an analyst for ESPN, Kelce is approaching 80% on the markets and is all-but guaranteed to be in attendance.
Lionel Messi
Global soccer/fútbol star Messi is in floating in the mid-40% area for his probability to attend the Super Bowl. Messi is currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
With the World Cup approaching, being played in the U.S., and Messi’s home country Argentina looking to defend its title, he is almost assuredly going to play, making it a natural that he attend the Super Bowl again. He could also pop up in a commercial as he has in the past.
Elon Musk
Musk, vying with Jeff Bezos to be the real-life Lex Luthor, is at nearly 40% for Super Bowl attendance prediction markets. While Musk has largely abandoned the Bay Area as a base of operations, his ownership of X and status as the richest person in the world makes him an obvious potential attendee.
Taylor Swift and Others
Swift is approaching 20%.
For obvious reasons, she’s connected to the Kelces and the NFL, though she has repeatedly demurred from being the star of the halftime show. It’s possible if not outright likely that she will be in a commercial.
Other names within 10-20% are U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, former First Lady Jill Biden, and former President Barack Obama.
President Donald J. Trump might want Vance to be the face of the administration at the Super Bowl, particularly with the current siege they are under for contentious policies. Vance, now an expectant father, might receive some leeway and not be viciously booed if he does show.
For the record, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is below 10%, as is President Trump.
Suffice it to say that Sec. Noem will not be there unless the administration tries to use the event for ICE raids.
When deciding on a selection, Jason Kelce is a layup since it’s his job to talk football, he works at ESPN, and he loves attention as much if not more than his brother does. For those who are looking for someone who has a lower percentage to attend, but has various motivations to be there, Vice President Vance is worth a look.
Paul Lebowitz is a novelist, columnist, social commentator, and the author of eight published books on baseball – one novel and seven baseball guide/previews. He covers sports, politics, and pop culture. Paul graduated from Hunter College with a degree in English. He lives in New York City.
