The Super Bowl is the most watched event in the United States. Of the top 20 most watched television events of all time in the US, the Super Bowl holds 19 of the top 20 slots (with only the final episode of MASH breaking its monopoly) In the United States there are not many events that match the spectacle and magnitude of the game. It’s watched by the most casual of sports fans with the halftime show and commercials as much a part of the reason that 110 million plus tune in to the game.
Besides watching the game on television, hundreds of thousands of others flock to the host cities to be part of the festivities that surround the spectacle. The majority of those that travel in town for a Super Bowl weekend, have little to no expectation of actually attending the games, instead focusing on the revelry that accompanies the hype and the many parties.
The Super Bowl is the beginning of a new year’s trifecta. A three consecutive week period that highlights “The Circuit”. The Circuit is characterized by events that attract hundreds of thousands into a city for the sole purpose to be part of the festivities without any real or direct connection to the teams or events that are taking place. In this case its people that make the pilgrimage, often annually, to the Super Bowl, followed the next weekend by the Grammys, followed the next weekend by the NBA All-Star Game.
Some would characterize this as groupie behavior. That’s a negative and often demeaning depiction normally associated with women. The reality is that the so-called groupie behavior really starts with the A-list (as well as the B, C and D-list) celebrities that flock to the Super Bowl just to be around the athletes irrespective of team alliance (i.e. see Drake).
The celebrities and athletes are part of the draw that then attract so many others (men and women) into town to be part of the festivities regardless of whether they are fans of the respective teams playing, are part of labels or teams that have Grammy nominations or are family or friends to any of the 24 players selected to the all-star game.
There are a large segment of people who mark their calendars for travel surrounding. It’s not a uniquely urban experience, but there is a specific route that many so called celebrities, Ballers (both real and imagined) Instagram models, and the men who want to be around them, follow. The Super Bowl, Grammys and NBA All Star game are the first three events on The Circuit’s calendar year. There is no set or defined itinerary, and it depends on the demographic, but for the Urban set, it will normally include some combination of Memorial Day celebrations (typically Miami or Vegas,) Essence festival, MAGIC in Vegas, MTV music awards, Bet and Soul Train awards. This is not a definitive list, but you get the point.
I have a tacit understanding of The Circuit. It gives people an opportunity to be a part of large-scale events that attract so many celebrities and athletes. The irony is of course, the celebrities and athletes, not specifically involved in the game or celebrations, come in part because of the throngs of others (i.e. beautiful women) who come to these events in large part because of the expected attendance of these celebrities and athletes.
Whatever the actual reason that so many attend these events, the fact is that there is an unofficial Circuit of events and festivities, along varying demographics, that people make the pilgrimage to religiously. When someone says they are going to the Super Bowl, Grammys or NBA All Star, the first thought is rarely how did they score tickets for the events? Instead, it’s an inquiry as to what parties they plan to go to. The Circuit has spawned a separate economy for those off “The List” and at the end of the day, those that travel The Circuit make up their own narrative as to whether the experience is worth the trip. I would definitely argue for most, The Circuit provides a much-needed break from the routine that life often tries to provide.
#Grammys, #NBAallstar, #Superbowl, #celebrities, #Thecircuit, #parties, #festivities
