Every year, tens of millions of people tune in to watch the Super Bowl. It’s the most viewed sporting event in the United States every year, and many Americans look forward to it. Whether you’re a fan of the football itself, the halftime show, or maybe you’re just an avid commercial viewer, the game is something that brings people from all over the nation together. 

Super Bowl XLVIII had an estimated 123.7 million viewers who tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers, 25-22. The game itself was very even in scoring, leading it into overtime after the 4th quarter ended. The Chiefs ended up pulling through after they had previously been losing to the 49ers at the start of the game. This is now the second time the Chiefs have beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl within the last 4 years.

The halftime performer this year was Usher, who brought special guests of Lil Jon, Alicia Keys, H.E.R., will.i.am, Ludacris, and more. Usher played many of his biggest hits at the show creating a nostalgic vibe many people reminisced to. The halftime show is as much of a cultural phenomenon as the Super Bowl itself, and is used to bring people together to share music and memories that come from the artists performances.Usher’s performance was no different. 

The Chiefs celebrated their victory at a parade in downtown Kansas City on Feb. 15, but the celebration turned into a nightmare when gunmen opened fire into a crowd of eager supporters. The mass shooting left 22 injured and one dead, creating a horrific scene for all parade goers. Instead of being able to celebrate sports and shared interests, instead fans suffered a traumatic experience. 

The Super Bowl should be a fun shared experience for Americans around the country but this year, it became the scene of another mass shooting; as of Feb. 15, the day of the shooting, there have been more mass shootings in 2024 than there had been days in the year. This yet again brings up disagreements on gun laws in America, with many Americans instilled with fear and sadness over the prevalence of mass shootings. For some people, this Super Bowl may have been memorable if a  favorite team played. For others, the shooting will be the memorable part, as many people were affected directly and indirectly by the event.

Article by Maggie McMillen