Super Bowl weekend is upon us, and stories related to the big game are dominating the news cycle. USA TODAY in a front-page piece notes the NFL's "hold on the popular culture, even if it has slipped a tad, remains unparalleled." Consumption trends "suggest the league may be hitting a crossroads." As a "younger generation comes of age, it will bring with it different entertainment preferences and multiple new ways of consuming media that don't always fatten the NFL's pockets." The "digital revolution" has created "fragmentation of the media" (USA TODAY, 2/3). Meanwhile, the "concussion conversation appears to have moved out of prime time during Super Bowl week" (TORONTO STAR, 2/3).
Focusing on the Super Bowl as an event, the HOUSTON CHRONICLE goes with the header, "The Super Bowl Is A Great Party, But It Leaves No Lasting Impression." The WALL STREET JOURNAL notes any "potential host city is increasingly judged on its ability to cater to the ultra-wealthy." The halftime show is also a popular topic. N.Y. TIMES: "Women Lead At The Half." NFL Chief Content Officer Jordan Levin talks about the halftime show and the league's ratings issues in a HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Q&A.
Others focused on the personalities behind the two teams involved. The BOSTON GLOBE looks at Falcons Assistant GM Scott Pioli's "deep New England ties." Also in the GLOBE, a look at Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady's ties to the Trump administration. The L.A. TIMES explores the lessons Falcons President Rich McKay learned from his late father, legendary USC coach John McKay. On the lighter side, the WALL STREET JOURNAL looks at how Super Bowl rings have become "ridiculous and unwearable," and it examines the bizarre pastime of building replica stadiums from snack foods.
