The Super Bowl is an annual American football game that determines the champion of the National Football League (NFL). The contest is held in an American city that is chosen three to four years beforehand, usually in warm-weather or domed sites.
Since 1971, the winner of the American Football Conference (AFC) Championship Game has faced the winner of the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship Game in the culmination of the NFL playoffs.
Over the past 40 years it has grown in scope and popularity to become a multi-billion dollar multi media spectacular and the United State’s most watched television program every year. From thrilling half time performances from some of America’s biggest musical talents to million dollar commercial spots that are often nearly as anticipated as the game’s final score the Super Bowl Sunday has evolved as an epic occasion.
Super Bowl XLV played in 2011 became the most-watched American television program in history, drawing an average audience of 111 million viewers and taking over the spot held by the previous year's Super Bowl, which itself had taken over the #1 spot held for twenty-eight years by the final episode of M*A*S*H.It is also among the most watched sporting events in the world, mostly due to North American audiences, and is second to Association football's UEFA Champions League final as the most watched annual sporting event worldwide.
Pop star Madonna is set to perform at the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show, sources close to the NFL have said.
SBNation.com reports that the Material Girl is expected to take the stage during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLVI on February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Spokespeople for the NFL have declined to comment on the report, while Madonna's representatives told Entertainment Weekly that there is "nothing to confirm at this point".
Black Eyed Peas performed at the event's half-time show last year.
If sources hold true, Madonna would be the first female entertainer to headline the half time show since Janet Jackson in 2004.
Recent halftime performers have included the Black Eyed Peas, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. Madonna would in theory have a blank canvas to showcase her catalog of work, from the "Like a Virgin" days to her most recent, electric-hop record, "Hard Candy."
Tourism officials across central Indiana are crossing their fingers that an overflow of visitors will bring business â€" and cash â€" to their communities when the 2012 Super Bowl kicks off in Indianapolis.
The NFL projects visitors will bring in between $125 million and $400 million during the days leading up to the Feb. 5 game in Indianapolis, Super Bowl Host Committeewoman Pat Carlini said. But Indianapolis doesn't have enough hotel rooms to accommodate all 150,000 expected visitors, so some will likely look for rooms within an hour of the host city, the Kokomo Tribune reported.
"It doesn't all stay right there," Carlini said. "We can all take advantage of that pot of gold."
