For the first time in NFL history, the Super Bowl will be hosted by the home team. While the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs brings some much-needed celebration to Tampa, it also creates a lot of concern during the pandemic.

For those that are physically attending the game, we can expect a rise in the number of cases even with the social distancing measures in place. But we shouldn’t just be concerned about those attending the game: there are more possibilities for transmission of the virus as people attend bars, strip clubs, and house parties.

An overwhelming 25% of Americans in a Seton Hall Sports Poll answered that they will be attending a Super Bowl party with people who they do not live with, and a further 11% were unsure if they would attend a party[2]. Even though we now have some people vaccinated, there have been massive jumps in cases after similar celebratory events like the 4^th of July.

Tampa’s infamous strip clubs will also attract large groups of people. While some clubs have claimed they comply with social distancing (tables may be spaced 6 feet apart, but dancers still give lap dances), it doesn’t seem like their capacity will be lowered. But the number of people in attendance isn’t the only thing that matters. What’s more concerning is that these football fans hail from all over the country – they’re not just Tampa locals. With increased travel comes the increased spread of COVID-19. We shouldn’t just expect a rise in cases in Tampa, but a rise nationally.

Despite these concerning consequences of the Super Bowl, many officials seem to be in support of following safety precautions and making sure the spread is minimized. In response to a nearby county’s upset at Kansas City’s call to celebrate safely and take precautions during the pandemic, Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas said his decision to not celebrate is agreed upon by “every sane medical professional and pretty much every sane person in America, and it’s also something that says: Look out for your fellow man and woman.”3

Now we just have to wait and see what happens during the next week to understand what we should call this year’s momentous NFL championship game: Super Bowl or Superspreader?

[1] Image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLVII

[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/28/super-bowl-coronavirus-parties-poll/