Most Americans plan to watch the Super Bowl, but many are more excited for the puppy bowl

The Ipsos Consumer Tracker asks Americans questions about culture, the economy and the forces that shape our lives. Here's one thing we learned this week.

Why we asked: So there’s this football game next weekend. The Super Bowl? I guess it’s a big deal or something? And something something commercials?

What we found: Despite the Lions not being in the game, a large majority of Americans plan to watch the matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs anyway. The ways in which we plan to watch it are largely unchanged over the years we’ve been trending this question. About one in six people will watch at a party of some sort. About two in five will stay home and watch alone or with family. Only about 5% say they’ll go out to a bar. And one in four will pay it no mind whatsoever.

All of this tells me that the Super Bowl really is a holiday in this nation. It’s one that we’ve ritualized – like Thanksgiving, except that does have the Lions playing. We have ways of celebrating, and we stick to them.

One in four people are more excited by the Puppy Bowl

Why we asked: If the Lions aren’t in it, maybe there’s some other reason to watch?

What we found: One of the reasons we have rituals is because it’s one of the only things we, as Americans, tend to really do together, as a nation. But another is because it’s become so much more than just a football game. Half us are excited for the commercials. And fully a third of us are MORE excited for the commercials, which is actually down a few points this year. That could be a blip, or it could be a reaction to how many ads get pre-released now (we’ll keep an eye on that one). About one in five plan to bet on the game in some fashion (we don’t specify whether that’s formally through an app, in an office squares pool, or in a handshake bet with a friend). And in a new question this year, 28% say they are more excited by the Puppy Bowl than the Super Bowl.

Which is a great excuse to tease What the Future: Pets, dropping in February. And if you haven’t been plugged into our years’ worth of amazing and in-depth coverage of what makes a good Super Bowl ad, you should check out this month’s Insights to Activate.

More insights from this wave of the Ipsos Consumer Tracker:

The housing market is crunched, and Americans are feeling it

Americans still have a complicated relationship with AI

America’s love for Valentine’s Day is unbending

We know climate change is a thing, but some of us think it’s a good thing?

The Ipsos Care-o-Meter: What does America know about vs. what does America care about