You're probably just here for the kickoff. It's the one thing everyone fights about every single February while the wings are getting cold and the dip is sitting out too long. We’ve all been there, hovering by the TV, asking if the anthem is over yet. If you are looking for the Super Bowl start time 2025, the short answer is that the game is scheduled to kick off at approximately 6:30 PM ET on Sunday, February 9, 2025.
But "approximate" is the keyword there.
Television networks like Fox, which is broadcasting Super Bowl LIX, treat that 6:30 timestamp more like a suggestion than a rule. You've got the flyovers. You've got the coin toss. You've got the inevitable delay because a commercial break ran thirty seconds long. If you sit down at exactly 6:30, you’ll likely catch the tail end of the National Anthem or the coin flip. If you want to see the actual ball hit the toe of the kicker, 6:40 PM ET is usually a safer bet for the true "game on" moment.
Where is the game and why does it matter?
This year, the NFL is heading back to New Orleans. Super Bowl LIX is being held at the Caesars Superdome. It's the 11th time the Big Easy has hosted the big game, which ties it with Miami for the most ever. New Orleans just knows how to handle a crowd. For those of you on the West Coast, that 6:30 PM Eastern start translates to a very early 3:30 PM PT. It's basically a late lunch. Mountain Time viewers are looking at 4:30 PM, and Central Time folks—who are actually in the same time zone as the stadium—will see the action start at 5:30 PM local time.
There is something special about New Orleans. The stadium is indoors, so we don't have to worry about the "Ice Bowl" scenarios or a rainy mess ruining the passing game. It’s a fast track. Expect a high-scoring game because the conditions are literally perfect.
Honestly, the logistics of a 6:30 PM start are a nightmare for the city. New Orleans is already crowded, but when you drop 100,000 extra people into the French Quarter for a game that ends near midnight local time? It’s chaos. But it’s the good kind of chaos.
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The Fox Broadcast and the Pre-Game Blur
Fox has the rights this year. That means you’re getting the "A-Team" in the booth. Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady are the expected voices for this one. It's Brady’s first Super Bowl behind the mic instead of under center. People are skeptical. Some love his analysis; others miss Greg Olsen. But regardless of your take on TB12, the Super Bowl start time 2025 remains the anchor for Fox's entire Sunday programming.
They will start pre-game coverage hours—and I mean hours—before the actual kickoff. Usually, the "official" pre-game show starts around 1:00 PM ET. Do you need to watch five and a half hours of retired players in shiny suits talking about "containing the edge"? Probably not. But the network needs that ad revenue.
If you are streaming, things get a bit weirder. You can catch the game on the Fox Sports app, but you'll need a cable login. Or, if you're part of the cord-cutting revolution, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Hulu + Live TV are the go-to spots. Just a heads-up: streaming usually has a 30-second to 45-second delay. If your neighbor screams because of a touchdown and your TV still shows the team at the 20-yard line, that’s why. Turn off your phone notifications if you want to avoid spoilers.
What about the halftime show?
The halftime show is the "second kickoff." Since the game starts at 6:30 PM ET, and an average NFL half takes about 90 minutes to two hours with all the extra Super Bowl commercials, Kendrick Lamar will likely take the stage around 8:15 PM or 8:30 PM ET.
This isn't your average halftime. After the Drake feud earlier in 2024, the hype for Kendrick in New Orleans is through the roof. There was some drama, obviously. Lil Wayne fans in NOLA were pretty upset that a local legend didn't get the nod, but Jay-Z and Roc Nation stuck with Kendrick. Expect a massive production. These shows usually last about 12 to 15 minutes, but they take nearly 30 minutes to set up and tear down.
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If you are only watching for the music, don't walk away from your TV after the second quarter ends. The "start time" for the halftime show is notoriously fluid because it depends entirely on how many penalties are called in the first half.
Why the Sunday date changed (Sorta)
Wait, why is it on February 9th? For decades, the Super Bowl was a January thing. Then it crept into the first week of February. Now, because of the 17-game regular-season schedule the NFL adopted a few years back, the Super Bowl is permanently pushed to the second Sunday in February.
This has actually sparked a whole movement to move the game to Saturday or make the Monday after a national holiday. Neither has happened yet. So, keep that coffee ready for Monday morning. You’re going to need it.
Quick reference for global viewers:
- London (GMT): 11:30 PM (Sunday night)
- Paris/Berlin (CET): 12:30 AM (Monday morning)
- Tokyo (JST): 8:30 AM (Monday morning)
- Sydney (AEDT): 10:30 AM (Monday morning)
It’s a global event, even if the world "football" means something else to everyone else.
Betting, Food, and Timing Your Party
If you're hosting, you need to work backward from that 6:30 PM ET Super Bowl start time 2025.
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If the game starts at 6:30, people should be arriving by 5:00 PM. This gives them time to settle in, grab a drink, and argue about the spread. The "Main Event" food—the heavy stuff like sliders or wings—should hit the table at 6:15 PM. Why? Because once the game starts, people get distracted. If you bring out the best food during the second quarter, half of it will be cold by halftime.
Speaking of the spread, the betting markets usually close the second the ball is kicked. If you’re looking to place a last-minute wager on the over/under or the color of the Gatorade, you basically have until 6:29 PM ET. After that, you’re stuck with live betting, which is a whole different beast.
Common misconceptions about the start time
People always think the Super Bowl starts at 6:00 PM. It doesn't. It never does. The 6:00 PM hour is for the "introductory" stuff. Think of it like a movie. The trailers start at 6:00; the actual film starts at 6:30.
Another myth? That the game is shorter because there are fewer teams. If anything, the Super Bowl is the longest game of the year. The commercial breaks are longer (and more expensive, costing roughly $7 million for 30 seconds). The halftime is double the length of a regular-season game. Expect the final whistle to blow somewhere around 10:00 PM or 10:15 PM ET.
How to prepare for game day
- Check your tech: If you are using a smart TV, update the Fox Sports app on Saturday. Don't wait until 6:25 PM on Sunday to find out you need a system update.
- Sync your clocks: If you're doing a "Zoom party" or a synchronized watch, make sure everyone is on the same platform to minimize lag.
- Plan the exit: If you're at a bar in New Orleans or any major city, the 10:00 PM finish time means Ubers will be at a 5x surge price. Wait it out or leave five minutes early (if the game isn't a nail-biter).
The Super Bowl start time 2025 is the one fixed point in the sports calendar that everyone centers their lives around for 24 hours. Whether you’re in it for the X’s and O’s, the Kendrick Lamar performance, or just the high-budget commercials, being in front of the screen by 6:30 PM ET ensures you won't miss the moment the season reaches its peak.
Make sure your snacks are ready, your remote has fresh batteries, and you've warned your boss that you might be "working from home" on Monday. It's going to be a long night in New Orleans.
Actionable Next Steps
- Verify your TV provider: Log in to your streaming service or cable portal now to ensure your credentials are still active for the Fox broadcast.
- Set a calendar alert: Mark 6:00 PM ET as your "sit down" time so you're ready for the 6:30 PM kickoff.
- Download the Fox Sports App: This is the most reliable backup if your primary cable or satellite feed goes down during the game.