US economy

Super Bowl LIII: What a Super Bowl commercial cost the year you were born


The Super Bowl has always captured America’s attention. Since its inception in 1967, between 30% to 50% of all Americans have watched the big game each year. With such a large viewership, it’s not just the NFL’s biggest day — it is the Super Bowl for advertisers as well.

Major corporations shell out millions of dollars for just 30 seconds of air time, guaranteed to be watched by at least 100 million Americans and many millions more across the globe. The two most recent Super Bowls, held in 2017 and 2018, each reportedly commanded a $5 million price tag for a 30-second spot, according to Ad Age, a media company that reports on advertising.

Yet Super Bowl advertisements were not always this pricey. The average cost of an ad spot in Super Bowl I was just $40,000. Adjusted for inflation, that is still less than $300,000 — less than a 10th of the current price tag.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed historical costs of a 30-second commercial spot in all 52 Super Bowls to determine the cost of a Super Bowl commercial the year you were born. Data was provided by Ad Age.

More: Super Bowl LIII: How this year’s ticket costs compare to the most expensive Super Bowls

More: Super Bowl: Before making guac for your viewing party, the FDA has some advice for you

More: USA TODAY Sports’ Super Bowl LIII picks: Patriots or Rams?

 

1967: Super Bowl I
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $40,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $300,000
> Matchup: Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

1968: Super Bowl II
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $54,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $391,000
> Matchup: Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders

1969: Super Bowl III
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $67,500
> Adjusted for inflation: $468,000
> Matchup: New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts

1970: Super Bowl IV
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $78,200
> Adjusted for inflation: $510,000
> Matchup: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings

1971: Super Bowl V
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $72,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $446,000
> Matchup: Baltimore Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys

1972: Super Bowl VI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $86,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $516,000
> Matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins

1973: Super Bowl VII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $103,500
> Adjusted for inflation: $599,000
> Matchup: Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins

1974: Super Bowl VIII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $107,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $566,000
> Matchup: Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings

1975: Super Bowl IX
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $110,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $521,000
> Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings

1976: Super Bowl X
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $125,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $555,000
> Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys

1977: Super Bowl XI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $162,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $683,000
> Matchup: Oakland Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings

1978: Super Bowl XII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $185,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $730,000
> Matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos

1979: Super Bowl XIII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $222,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $802,000
> Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys

1980: Super Bowl XIV
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $275,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $872,000
> Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Rams

1981: Super Bowl XV
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $324,300
> Adjusted for inflation: $919,000
> Matchup: Oakland Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles

1982: Super Bowl XVI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $345,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $902,000
> Matchup: San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

1983: Super Bowl XVII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $400,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,009,000
> Matchup: Washington Redskins vs. Miami Dolphins

 

1984: Super Bowl XVIII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $450,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,089,000
> Matchup: Los Angeles Raiders vs. Washington Redskins

 

1985: Super Bowl XIX
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $500,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,169,000
> Matchup: San Francisco 49ers vs. Miami Dolphins

 

1986: Super Bowl XX
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $550,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,238,000
> Matchup: Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots

 

1987: Super Bowl XXI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $575,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,275,000
> Matchup: New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos

 

1988: Super Bowl XXII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $600,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,279,000
> Matchup: Washington Redskins vs. Denver Broncos

 

1989: Super Bowl XXIII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $675,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,375,000
> Matchup: San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

 

1990: Super Bowl XXIV
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $700,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,355,000
> Matchup: San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos

 

1991: Super Bowl XXV
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $800,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,466,000
> Matchup: New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills

 

1992: Super Bowl XXVI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $800,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,429,000
> Matchup: Washington Redskins vs. Buffalo Bills

 

1993: Super Bowl XXVII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $850,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,470,000
> Matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills

 

1994: Super Bowl XXVIII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $900,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,518,000
> Matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills

 

1995: Super Bowl XXIX
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $1,150,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,887,000
> Matchup: San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers

 

1996: Super Bowl XXX
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $1,085,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,733,000
> Matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

 

1997: Super Bowl XXXI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $1,200,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,860,000
> Matchup: Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots

 

1998: Super Bowl XXXII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $1,292,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $1,972,000
> Matchup: Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers

 

1999: Super Bowl XXXIII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $1,600,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $2,402,000
> Matchup: Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons

 

2000: Super Bowl XXXIV
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,100,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,069,000
> Matchup: St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans

 

2001: Super Bowl XXXV
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,200,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,099,000
> Matchup: Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants

 

2002: Super Bowl XXXVI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,200,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,064,000
> Matchup: New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams

 

2003: Super Bowl XXXVII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,150,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $2,919,000
> Matchup: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders

 

2004: Super Bowl XXXVIII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,302,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,066,000
> Matchup: New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers

 

2005: Super Bowl XXXIX
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,400,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,104,000
> Matchup: New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles

 

2006: Super Bowl XL
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,500,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,110,000
> Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks

 

2007: Super Bowl XLI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,385,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $2,906,000
> Matchup: Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears

 

2008: Super Bowl XLII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,700,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,155,000
> Matchup: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

 

2009: Super Bowl XLIII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $3,000,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,505,000
> Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals

 

2010: Super Bowl XLIV
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $2,974,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,385,000
> Matchup: New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

 

2011: Super Bowl XLV
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $3,100,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,472,000
> Matchup: Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

 

2012: Super Bowl XLVI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $3,500,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $3,809,000
> Matchup: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

 

2013: Super Bowl XLVII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $4,000,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $4,285,000
> Matchup: Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers

 

2014: Super Bowl XLVIII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $4,200,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $4,429,000
> Matchup: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos

 

2015: Super Bowl XLIX
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $4,400,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $4,644,000
> Matchup: New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks

 

2016: Super Bowl 50
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $4,800,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $4,998,000
> Matchup: Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers

 

2017: Super Bowl LI
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $5,050,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $5,130,000
> Matchup: New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons

 

2018: Super Bowl LII
> Cost of a 30 second spot: $5,050,000
> Adjusted for inflation: $5,050,000
> Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots

24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

 

 



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