The Super Bowl is one of the most watched sporting events in the world each year. It is the final of the NFL (National Football League), the American American football league. Even if American football is more popular in the United States than elsewhere in the world, the Super Bowl brings together millions of viewers around the world each time.
The next edition will be held on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It's 59e Edition of the championship which will oppose the Chiefs of Kansas City to the Eagles of Philadelphia. The event is officially called Super Bowl Lix, but why?
The use of Roman numerals for the Super Bowl, a surprising choice
This choice to use Roman numerals instead of Arab figures in the decimal system is all the more surprising since the United States does not really have a historical link with the Roman Empire.
The Super Bowl is also a modern event that contrasts with Roman numbers, generally used in traditional or formal contexts. However, the NFL has an excellent reason to use Roman numerals to name the Super Bowl each year.
The particularity of the Super Bowl compared to other sporting events
In fact, the main reason is to avoid any confusion. You should know that the NFL season takes place a little differently from other sports. For example, the NBA finals, the basketball league, generally take place in June, at the end of the regular season.
As for the Super Bowl, it is organized on the second Sunday in February when it designates the champions of the previous season. Thus, the Super Bowl Lix of February 9, 2025 will actually designate the winners of the 2024 season.
If he was named Super Bowl 2025, the event would believe that these are the Champions of 2025 while the matches of the 2025 season have not even started yet.
Roman numbers to avoid confusion
Of course, American football fans all know this peculiarity, but let's not forget that the Super Bowl is followed worldwide.
As the NFL media directives explain, “the Roman numerals have been adopted to clarify any confusion that could occur because the NFL championship final – the Super Bowl – is played for a chronologically recorded season” .
The Roman numerals therefore make it possible to distinguish between the season and the real year of the championship, which would be impossible by using the Arabic figures.
Lamar Hunt's idea to bring prestige to the event
This is not the only reason. The idea of using Roman numerals to name the Super Bowl originally comes from Lamar Hunt, the founder and the former owner of the Kansas City chiefs.
After the victory of the Chiefs in 1970, Lamar Hunt proposed to use the Roman numerals to bring a touch of refinement to the event. The Roman numbers actually have a connotation of prestige and elegance. We think in particular of Pope Benedict XVI and Queen Elizabeth II.
The Roman numbers were used for the Super Bowl in 1970
“This would further strengthen the link with the past and, in my opinion, would add a little 'class' to our name 'without prestige'”, would have written Lamar Hunt to Pete Rozelle, the former commissioner of the NFL.
The idea apparently pleased Pete Rozelle since the 1970 final was officially called Super Bowl IV. This tradition is still topical, 55 years later.
The basic principles of Roman numbering
As a reminder, the Roman numerals are noted with 7 capital letters which each represent a numerical value:
- I = 1
- V = 5
- X = 10
- L = 50
- C = 100
- D = 500
- M = 1000
Then, the numbers are formed by addition or subtraction. To add, simply place a Roman figure on the right, another number of value less than or equal. For example, xx = 20 and XVI = 16 with this addition system.
The main rule is that the same figure cannot be added more than three times in a row. The subtraction must be used beyond three (CCC = 300, but CD = 400). There are only two exceptions, the MMMM number (4000) and the number IIII (4) used on certain dials.
As for subtraction, a lower value of the Roman number must be placed on the left of the Roman figure. Thus, IV = 4 and Lix = 59 to use the example of the Super Bowl. The 60e Edition of next year will therefore be called Super Bowl LX.
Source: Iflscience
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
