Super Bowl LIX vs. IPL 2024 Final viewership: Which sporting event is bigger?

The NFL’s global prominence is undeniable, with the Super Bowl standing among the world’s biggest sporting events. Similarly, while football dominates American hearts, cricket commands the devotion of 1.43 billion passionate fans worldwide.

Given the eminence of both sports, the Super Bowl and the Indian Premier League (IPL) Final are widely considered the two titans among the sports events. Super Bowl LIX, a recent clash of two gridiron giants, saw the Philadelphia Eagles upset the two-time Super Bowl defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs with a commanding 40-22 triumph. The cricket fans enjoyed the taste of such a dominating clash in the IPL 2024 Final, held last year in April. 

Reflecting on the recent Super Bowl LIX and the IPL 2024 Final, a compelling question arises: which sporting event is bigger? Well, ‘bigger’ in the manner of their viewership, given the clash for the Vince Lombardi Trophy broke records in terms of viewership. 

Record-breaking viewership comparison between Super Bowl LIX and IPL 2024 Final

Despite the commanding performance by the Eagles, which kept the Chiefs scoreless for two whole quarters, the interests of fans didn’t tremble. If anything, this game set a new benchmark in viewership, amassing an astounding average of 127.7 million viewers across all platforms, making it the most-watched Super Bowl in history. 

With a 3% increase from last year, Super Bowl LIX demonstrated the growing popularity of the NFL, which is another reason why NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is aiming to increase regular season games on international soil. The game peaked at 137.7 million viewers during the second quarter, reflecting that even a lopsided score couldn’t prevent fans from tuning in. 

Coming to the IPL 2024 Final, it shattered viewership records as Star Sports the official broadcaster, reported a continuous climb in the TV viewership for the premier league. As the Kolkata Knight Riders take on Sunrisers Hyderabad, over 20 million tuned in on Jio Cinema initially, while an estimated 500 to 600 million were projected to have watched on Star Sports. 

While the Super Bowl achieved remarkable numbers for a single event in the United States, the IPL boasts a broader global audience that spans multiple countries and time zones. Ultimately, determining which event is “bigger” may depend on perspective, in the end, they both exemplify how sports can attract enormous audiences in the cheering spirit and rooting for their favorite team to win. 

Related: Top 10 clutch comebacks in NFL history

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