Beyoncé halftime-show announcement excites the college crowd
Is there going to be a Beyoncé concert during the Super Bowl or is the Super Bowl taking place during a Beyoncé concert? The popularity of Super Bowl halftime shows makes it difficult to tell.
The Super Bowl halftime show is an event within an event -- a spectacle in itself.
Madonna's performance during halftime of Super Bowl XLVI was the most-viewed halftime show ever. Her performance was watched by more than 114 million people -- more than the actual game itself, which was watched by 111 million people.
Ethan Groothuis, a 21-year-old senior at Luther College, isn't a big football fan, but he hasn't missed a halftime show in 10 years.
Groothuis said he prioritizes the halftime show, and he considers it a bigger draw than the game itself.
"I don't really enjoy the game enough and if it's nobody that's in my region, it becomes less and less appealing," said Groothuis, a communications major.
"Generally more people are interested in the commercials and the halftime show. Maybe 30% of people [I know] are actually interested in the game."
Madonna took the halftime show to a whole new level with a classic set list, a plethora of costume changes, dancers, acrobats and amazing lighting and visuals.
This year's performer, Beyoncé, is known for her incredible performances, too.
In May, her first performance since becoming a mother in January earned the praise of her husband, rapper and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z.
"BEYONCE is the best performer in the world. Period," he wrote on Twitter after the show.
Groothuis, a Beyoncé fan, said he was excited when he heard the pop star was scheduled to perform during halftime of Super Bowl XLVII.
"Some of the [performaces in] recent years haven't been so strong," Groothuis said. "I'm sure she'll have great backup dancers and singers. The production value will be pretty high."
Beyoncé will be the first contemporary artist to perform since 2004 -- when the Justin Timberlake/Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction took place.
Recent halftime performances featured older artists like Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and The Who.
Callie Young, a 20-year-old elementary education student at the University of Minnesota, said she has always viewed the halftime show as "a time to get appetizers."
This has been especially true in recent years because of the older halftime performers, Young said, and though she says she respects the recent acts, she hasn't really vibed with their halftime performances.
"Those are awesome and I absolutely love them," Young said, "but since the whole Janet Jackson thing, there hasn't been anyone I've been really pumped for.
"I got really excited when I heard it was Beyoncé."
A 16-time Grammy Award winner, Beyoncé sang the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.
It's been speculated that Jay-Z could be a guest in her performance. Former Destiny's Child sidekicks Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams are rumored to be guests as well.
Super Bowl XLVII will be played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The Superdome has not hosted a Super Bowl since 2002.
Sam Gordon is a Fall 2012 Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about him here.
This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.