Buy This, Not That: How To Save Money on Super Bowl Sunday This Year

Author Lauren Beckham Falcone

February 2nd 9:08 AM

How To Save on a Super Bowl Party This Year? We’ve got tips. But before we get to that.

Who is playing?

The Super Bowl showdown features the San Francisco 49ers against the Kansas City Chiefs. Super Bowl LVIII will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, February 11. Usher will headline the half-time show. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 6:30 PM Eastern time. The big game is broadcast on CBS, family-friendly version on Nickelodeon. It’s streaming on Paramount+. The national anthem will be sung by country superstar and Country Music Hall of Famer Reba McEntire.

Will Taylor Swift Be There?

It’s going to be tough. With an Eras Tour date on Feb. 10 in Tokyo, will Swift be able to make it to Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII?

Thanks to time zones and her high-flying private jet, she’s practically bending time to catch the Super Bowl action in Las Vegas. So, here’s the scoop: After rocking Tokyo, Swift’s hopping on a 13-hour flight (on her fancy jet, of course) and aiming to touch down in Vegas before the big game kickoff at 3:30 p.m. PT on Sunday. Swift’s all in to cheer on her love, Travis Kelce, and the Chiefs as they take on the San Francisco 49ers. It’s like time travel, Super Bowl edition!

Oh, did I mention that CBS and advertisers are crossing their fingers for Swift’s Super Bowl cameo? She’s been a ratings game-changer at football events this season, so everyone’s hoping she brings that star power to the big show.

What are the top favorite Super Bowl Snacks?

According to The American Sports Fanship Survey by St. Bonaventure University in New York, people are passionate about their Super Bowl snacks.

Chicken wings edge out pizza as America’s favorite food to eat on Super Bowl Sunday, 25-23% followed by chips/dip (12%), nachos (8%) and burgers (8%). When considering both their favorite and second favorite game time foods, pizza (43%) beats out wings (40%), followed by chips/dip (24%), nachos (19%), burgers (18%), sandwiches (14%) and barbecue (12%).

So, what’s pricey and what’s not?

Go for the wings. According to MartketWatch.com, the cost of fresh chicken wings averages $3.26 per pound. That’s down 5% compared to January 2023, according to a Wells Fargo report on food costs across categories. Frozen wings are down 11%.

Lay off the burgers and chili. Beef is in shorter supply due to record-low cattle numbers. Sirloin steak is up 2.3% from January 2023, according to Wells Fargo. Ground beef prices are through the rood. They average $4.25 per pound, up almost 12% compared to January 2023.

Good news! Shrimp cocktail is the way to go! In January, fresh shrimp cost an average of $8.84 per pound, down 6.4% from January 2023.

Lauren Beckham Falcone is the co-host of Bob & LBF in the Morning. Formerly an award-winning reporter and columnist for the Boston Herald, she credits her current success as a pop culture commentator to watching too much TV as a kid and scouring the internet too much as an adult. LBF is a regular contributor to NECN and is an honorary board member at the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. Lauren lives in Canton with her husband Dave and her daughter Lucy. Lauren writes about trending topics, New England destinations, and seasonal DIY.

Top 10 Massachusetts Super Bowl Snacks

With the Big Game just days away, let’s dive into a heapin’ helpin’ of the Top 10 Massachusetts Super Bowl snacks.

Gambling.com crunched the numbers (and the chips) to come up with this Top 10 list. How’d they do it?

“Using Google Search Volumes, 30 of the USA’s most popular Super Bowl dishes were analyzed, to see which item had been searched the most over Super Bowl weekend last year. These were then compiled, and a top 10 ranking was created.”

They continue:

“From wings and pizza to chips and dips, reports state the average American eats around of 2,400 calories during the 4-hour game… so which snacks do Massachusetts residents go mad for around game time, and over the entire Super Bowl weekend?”

Top 10 Massachusetts Super Bowl Snacks

Here’s my question, though: are the parties for Super Bowl LVII going to be as big in Massachusetts as they would be if, say, it was the Patriots in the Big Game taking on the Eagles and not the Chiefs? I’m guessing no. I’m guessing that since it’s a non-New England year, it’s not a cattle call to all family and friends. I’m guessing the average Super Bowl soiree this year will be a little more low-key.

Still, though, there will be food. And plenty of it.

The Gambling.com rankings break it all down, and I’ve shared their Top 10 below. If I’m being honest (and I am), it’s not a controversial list. There is one item, however, that I was surprised to see. It sits at No. 9. Will it be a surprise to you, too? Or is it a Super Bowl party staple at your table? Take a look, and remember to keep an eye out for Ozzy Osbourne and Joan Jett during the commercial breaks on Super Bowl Sunday. Oh, and pass the nachos, please. Thanks.

10) Meatballs
8,873 searches

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appetit)
9) Shrimp
10,110 searches

(Photo by Brian Ach/Getty Images for New York Magazine)
8) Ice Cream
13,867 searches

(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
7) Chips & Dips
14,701 searches

(Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Tostitos)
6) BBQ Ribs
15,218 searches

(Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images)
5) Chili
16,808 searches

(Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Bush’s Beans)
4) Chicken Wings
22,395 searches

(Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)
3) Cookies
23,424 searches

(Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images)
2) Burgers
41,346 searches

(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
1) Pizza
72,039 searches

(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)