February’s Super Battle

Marist National Poll

Americans Prefer the Super Bowl to Valentine’s Day

How do I love thee, Super Bowl? Let me count the ways. The Super Bowl may not have been Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s intended recipient, but when pitted against Valentine’s Day, Americans are more inclined to have a love affair with the Super Bowl than the de facto most romantic day of the year. In fact, a plurality of Americans say they are more excited about the NFL’s big event than Valentine’s Day. Gender and age differences, though, do exist.

Super Bowl’s Supremacy
Which February event are you more excited about:
Source: Marist Poll National Adults. Interviews conducted January 29th through February 1st, 2024, n=1,582 MOE +/- 3.4 percentage points. Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding.
  • 48% of Americans, inched up from 45% last year, say they are more excited about the Super Bowl than Valentine’s Day this year. 37% are more enthused about Valentine’s Day, and 14% are not looking forward to either February event.

  • While a majority of men (56%) are more excited about the Super Bowl, women divide (40% for the Super Bowl to 44% for Valentine’s Day). Similar proportions of men (13%) and women (15%), though, are not excited about either event.

  • When looking at age, enthusiasm about the Super Bowl falls in the middle. 52% of those ages 30 to 44 and 51% of those 45 to 59 are more excited about the Super Bowl than Valentine’s Day. Residents under 30 divide (46% for the Super Bowl to 42% for Valentine’s Day). A plurality of those 60 and older (44%) prefer the Super Bowl to Valentine’s Day (38%).

  • While a plurality in all geographic regions prefer the Super Bowl, residents in the Midwest (53%) and West (50%) are more likely than those in the Northeast (43%) and South (47%) to say so.