NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says Super Bowl LIV will 'easily' generate $1 billion in revenue
Watch Maria Bartiromo's exclusive interview with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on 'Sunday Morning Futures' at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 2.
Super Bowl LIV will "easily" generate $1 billion in revenue, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told "Sunday Morning Futures" host Maria Bartiromo in an exclusive interview airing on Fox News Channel Sunday.
Goodell said that the Super Bowl becomes "bigger and bigger every year."
"And, it becomes more complicated because of that. But, that's also the fun of it. Because more people share in it. And, more people have an opportunity to be part of the Super Bowl," he said.
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The Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers will go head-to-head Sunday for the NFL championship in Miami, Florida. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET, with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Fox.
Both teams were among the top seeds in the NFL Playoffs and won their conference championship games decisively.
Signage is displayed near the FOX Sports South Beach studio compound prior to Super Bowl LIV on January 25, 2020 in Miami Beach, Florida. The San Francisco 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the 54th playing of the Super Bowl, Sunday February 2nd. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
The NFL celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019, with last year's Super Bowl in Atlanta marking the beginning of the league's "NFL 100" initiatives, events, and programs.
"We are proud of our 100-year anniversary. It's been a wonderful celebration for us, so that's great," said Goodell, who noted that both teams in Super Bowl LIV have storied histories.
The Chiefs are appearing in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1970, when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV. San Francisco has won five Super Bowls, but have not lifted the Lombardi trophy since 1995. Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to their most recent Super Bowl appearance in 2013, but San Francisco fell 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.
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"We're excited about the game, of course," Goodell said, " but the event is more than a football game."
"It's something very special that people look forward to and plan around. It's essentially become its own holiday," he stated.
The buildup to the big game has been overshadowed in some respects by the sudden loss of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, who died alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash in Southern California.
Goodell said that crash was a terrible "tragedy."
"I think it's hard for all of us to fathom that kind of sadness," he told Bartiromo.
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"And, it unfolded pretty much during the middle of our Pro Bowl last week," Goodell continued. "So, we began [tributes] immediately. His picture was up in the stadium making our fans aware of the sad news -- paying tribute to him. A moment of silence. We did it again on Monday night,"
"So, we've continued to keep him, his family, everybody, in our thoughts and prayers. And, obviously, had opportunities for our players to express their sadness about the entire circumstance," he added.
Watch Maria Bartiromo's exclusive interview with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on 'Sunday Morning Futures' at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 2.
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.