Super Bowl Airing In Austria: What's The Deal?

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Although American football is not particularly popular in Austria, the Super Bowl is a major event and many bars and pubs hold viewing parties. The Vienna Marriott Hotel, for example, hosts one of the most traditional Super Bowl parties in Austria. The country's public channel ORF does not broadcast the event, but it is aired on other channels such as Puls24, ProSieben, and RTL, as well as streaming services like DAZN.

Where to watch the Super Bowl in Austria

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and while American football isn't hugely popular in Austria, the Super Bowl is still a major event. There are several ways to watch the Super Bowl in Austria, from the comfort of your own home, or at a viewing party or event.

On TV

The Austrian public channel ORF does not broadcast the Super Bowl, but other channels do. In the past, Puls24, ProSieben, and RTL have aired the Super Bowl, and it's also available on streaming services such as DAZN.

At a Sports Bar or Pub

Many bars and pubs in Austria hold Super Bowl viewing parties. Some of the most popular events sell out well in advance, so be sure to get your tickets early! Here are some options for Super Bowl viewing parties in Austria:

• Super Bowl Party at Vienna Marriot Hotel — One of the most traditional Super Bowl parties in Austria, with an all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink offer. Tickets start at €99.
• Super Bowl Night at Admiral Arena Prater — Held in Vienna's second district, this event offers an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet, a professional moderator, football experts, and entertainment. Tickets cost €109.
• Super Bowl Extravaganza at the Long Hall — Watch the game on five plasma screens and a drop-down projector at this international pub. Tickets cost €60 and include an open bar.
• Super Bowl at Pointers Pub — A sports pub in Vienna's fourth district offering free snacks and nibbles. Tickets cost €40.
• The Big Game at Hard Rock Cafe Vienna — With 10 screens broadcasting the game live, a DIY food station, and a dessert buffet, this is another popular option for Super Bowl viewers. Tickets are €75.

Alternative Options

If you're looking for something a little different, you can also check out the Super Bowl events held by American football teams in Austria, such as the Salzburg Bulls, the Cineplexx Blue Devils, and the Swarco Raiders. These events are often free to attend and offer a unique way to experience the Super Bowl with fellow football fans.

Super Bowl viewing parties in Viennese sports bars

The Super Bowl is one of the most important and widely watched sporting events in the US, and it's also popular in Austria. If you're in Vienna and want to watch the Super Bowl in the company of other sports fans, there are plenty of options for Super Bowl viewing parties in sports bars across the city.

Champions

Attached to the Marriott Hotel, Champions is an American-style sports bar with a difference. With numerous screens showing various sports, Champions usually broadcasts football matches from across European leagues. It's centrally located, close to the Rathaus, and offers American cuisine such as burgers, nachos, ribs, and wings.

Flanagans

Flanagans is an Irish-owned pub near the city centre, just a short walk from famous tourist sites like the State Opera House. With plenty of screens, good food, and a selection of "proper" beers, Flanagans is a popular spot to watch sports. They also show rugby matches.

Shebeen

Shebeen is a pub packed with big and small screens, typically offering viewers a choice of games. They have a strong selection of beers and decent food. In the past, it was frequented by expats and immigrants, but it has now become popular with locals, too. They also host regular comedy nights.

Shamrock

The Shamrock is a relatively small and intimate pub with a couple of big screens and smaller TVs. With friendly bar staff and good beer, this pub is conveniently located just off Mariahilfer Straße, Vienna's main shopping street.

Other Options

For those on a budget, there are numerous sports bars that host free Super Bowl viewing parties every year. These include the Admiral Arena Prater, which offers an all-inclusive buffet and professional cheerleaders, and Plutzer Bräu, a well-known spot for public viewing in a relaxed atmosphere. They offer a buffet with spareribs, chicken wings, and other treats.

If you're looking for a more exclusive Super Bowl experience, the Vienna Marriott Hotel hosts a prominent Super Bowl party with live coverage, original NFL merchandise, and an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet.

Super Bowl events in Vienna

The Super Bowl is one of the most important and widely watched sports events in the US. And for those in Vienna, Austria, who want to join in the fun, there are plenty of Super Bowl events to choose from.

Super Bowl Party at Vienna Marriott Hotel

One of the most popular events is the Super Bowl Party at the Vienna Marriott Hotel. This event offers live coverage of the game, original NFL merchandise, and an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet with a variety of food and drink options. The party takes place across two floors of the hotel, with tickets costing €109. Guests also have the option to book a room at the hotel for the night.

Super Bowl Night in Prater

Another option is the Super Bowl Night at Admiral Arena Prater. For €109, guests can enjoy an all-inclusive buffet, professional cheerleaders, live moderation, original merchandise, and a 360-degree video box.

Super Bowl Party at Plutzer Bräu

For a more low-key celebration, there's the Super Bowl Party at Plutzer Bräu. This event offers a live broadcast of the game, a buffet featuring spareribs and chicken wings, and a more intimate setting. Tickets start at €40, and table reservations are required.

Public Viewing in Sportbars

For those on a budget, many sports bars in Vienna offer free public viewing of the Super Bowl. While these events may not have all the bells and whistles of the larger parties, they still provide a fun and festive atmosphere to watch the game.

No matter which event you choose, the Super Bowl is sure to be a night to remember in Vienna. So grab your tickets, put on your favourite team's jersey, and get ready to cheer!

The Austrian Football League

The AFL is the highest tier level, and below that is a tier pyramid system consisting of teams playing in divisions I through division IV. Winners of each division move up to the next level of play. The Tyrol Raiders and Vienna Vikings dominated the league for much of the preceding decade but announced their intention to leave for the European League of Football for the 2022 season. However, unlike teams in other countries that have made this move, the reserve team of both will remain in the AFL.

The AFL was founded in 1982 by teams such as the Salzburg Lions, Graz Giants, Vienna Ducks, and Vienna Ramblocks. The first Austrian Bowl was held in 1984 in Salzburg.

The AFL is widely considered one of the best American football leagues in Europe, particularly from 2004 to 2011, when the European Football League final game, the Eurobowl, was won seven out of eight times by an Austrian league AFL team.

In 2010, the Prague Panthers from the Czech Republic joined the league as the first team from outside Austria. They were followed by the Ljubljana Silverhawks from Slovenia in 2016 and the Bratislava Monarchs from Slovakia in 2018.

The AFL has specific rules regarding foreign players, with a focus on promoting homegrown talent. Each roster can have a maximum of six American, Canadian, Mexican, or Japanese professional import players, with only two allowed on the field at the same time.

The AFL regular season consists of ten games starting in mid-March, with playoffs extending through July. The final game, the Austrian Bowl, was first held in 1984 in Salzburg and has since become a highly anticipated annual event.

The history of the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the US National Football League (NFL). It has been the final game of every NFL season since 1966, replacing the NFL Championship Game.

The Super Bowl was created as part of a 1966 merger agreement between the NFL and the competing American Football League (AFL). The agreement was negotiated by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle and AFL's Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt. The deal was struck so that the two leagues' 'best' teams could compete for a championship. The first Super Bowl took place in 1967, and the AFL and NFL champions played each other at the end of the season. Hunt suggested calling the game the "Super Bowl", inspired by his children's "Super Ball" toy. The name was initially just a joke, and both he and Rozelle thought a better title could be found. However, sportswriters started using the moniker in advance of the inaugural game in January 1967, and it stuck.

The first Super Bowl was played between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers, led by quarterback Bart Starr, won 35-10, and Starr was named the Most Valuable Player. The game was held in the Los Angeles Coliseum and, surprisingly, did not sell out. Tickets were priced at around $10 to $15 and were thought to be overpriced. The game drew 65 million television viewers, the largest-ever audience for a US sporting event at the time.

The Super Bowl's popularity grew as the rivalry between the leagues intensified. After the AFL's New York Jets shocked the NFL's Baltimore Colts with a 16-7 victory in Super Bowl III, the AFL gained credibility. Following the merger in 1970, the NFL split into the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The champions of the two conferences have played each other at the end of each season since.

The Super Bowl is now among the world's most-watched single sporting events. It is the second most-viewed annual sporting event worldwide, after the UEFA Champions League final. The seven most-watched broadcasts in American television history are Super Bowls. Commercial airtime during the Super Bowl is the most expensive of the year, and companies regularly develop their most expensive advertisements for the event.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots are tied for the most Super Bowl wins, with six each. The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers have won five each. The biggest blowout in Super Bowl history took place in 1990, when the 49ers dominated the Denver Broncos 55-10. The biggest Super Bowl comeback came in 2017, when the Patriots pulled off a 34-28 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots had been down 28-3 with 8:31 left in the third quarter.

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