If you were looking for the exact second the ball flew through the air in New Orleans, you probably realized by now that the 2025 Super Bowl wasn't just another game. It was a massive cultural collision. Super Bowl LIX kicked off officially at 6:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. local CT) on Sunday, February 9, 2025. But honestly? If you tuned in right at 6:30, you actually missed the start of the "show."
The thing about the Super Bowl is that the "start time" is kinda a moving target. The NFL says 6:30, but between the coin toss, the flyovers, and the national anthem, the actual foot-to-leather moment usually slides closer to 6:40 p.m. ET. For those watching in the Caesars Superdome, the energy was already at a fever pitch hours before that.
Super Bowl Start Time 2025: The Clock and the Coast
When the Philadelphia Eagles faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs, the world was watching on different clocks. Most people forget that the Super Bowl is one of the few events that forces the entire country to sync up at the exact same moment.
If you were on the West Coast, you were likely cracking your first beer or prepping the wings around 3:30 p.m. PT. Out in the Mountain Time Zone, it was 4:30 p.m. For most of the country, it was a primetime event, but for the lucky fans in New Orleans, the 5:30 p.m. local start meant the sun was just starting to dip, letting the neon of the French Quarter take over.
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Who was on the mic?
This year was historic for reasons that had nothing to do with the scoreboard. Tom Brady made his Super Bowl broadcasting debut on FOX.
He was joined by Kevin Burkhardt in the booth, and let’s be real, everyone was waiting to see if Brady would be as good with a headset as he was with a helmet. It was a $375 million moment for FOX. They also had Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi stalking the sidelines, giving us the dirty details on Jalen Hurts' hand injury and Patrick Mahomes' frustrated sideline chats with Andy Reid.
The Halftime Surge
You can't talk about the start time without talking about the "second start"—the Halftime Show. Kendrick Lamar took the stage roughly 90 minutes after kickoff, which put him on screen around 8:15 p.m. ET.
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It wasn't just a concert; it was a statement. With SZA making a surprise appearance and a stage design that looked like a vintage PlayStation controller, it was arguably the most talked-about twelve minutes of the night. If you were only there for "Not Like Us," you had to be glued to your seat by 8:00 p.m. just to be safe.
Watching the 2025 Super Bowl without cable
Streaming has basically taken over. While the game aired on FOX, millions of people ditched the antenna and used Tubi, which streamed the game for free.
- Fubo and YouTube TV were the go-to for those who wanted the traditional "channel flipping" feel.
- NFL+ handled the mobile crowd, though the lag was a bit of a buzzkill for anyone following the live bets on Twitter.
- Fox Deportes and Telemundo provided the Spanish-language coverage, which, honestly, usually has much more energetic announcing than the English feeds.
Why New Orleans mattered
The 2025 Super Bowl was New Orleans’ eleventh time hosting. That’s a record. The game was actually supposed to be there in 2024, but Mardi Gras got in the way. The NFL realized they couldn't compete with the chaos of Bourbon Street during peak Carnival, so they pushed LIX back a year.
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It worked out. The city was electric. From Jon Batiste’s soul-stirring National Anthem to the sight of Trombone Shorty playing "America the Beautiful," the pre-game ceremonies were deeply rooted in Louisiana culture.
The final whistle
The game wrapped up around 10:10 p.m. ET. It was a wild ride that saw the Eagles pull off a 40–22 victory, ending the Chiefs' dreams of a "three-peat." Jalen Hurts walked away with the MVP, and if you weren't watching the post-game trophy presentation by 10:30 p.m., you missed the emotional high point of the season.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're already looking ahead, Super Bowl LX is set for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. You’ll want to book your travel for Northern California early, as prices usually triple the moment the playoff brackets are set in January. Keep an eye on the NFL's official ticket partner, On Location, for early bird packages.