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Writer's pictureLisa Hallett Taylor

Did Uncle Joe Go to the Very First Super Bowl in LA?

Did you know that the very first Super Bowl was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum on January 15, 1967? Perhaps your ancestors--or maybe even you--were lucky enough to attend that inaugural game. While photos show crowds filling the stands, apparently, seats were available, and it is the only Super Bowl not to sell out, according to Life Magazine. The average price of a ticket for Super Bowl I was $12, about $109 in 2024, according to the U.S. Inflation Calculator.


Just like Sunday's game, the Kansas City Chiefs showed up...against the Vince Lombardi-coached Green Bay Packers, who beat them 35-10. Since two of "the big three" networks, NBC and CBS, held the rights to nationally televise American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) games, both networks were allowed to televise the game.

It wasn't until December 1, 1966--six weeks before the game--that the City of Los Angeles was awarded the game, giving little time to prepare. The KC Chiefs practiced at Veterans Field in Long Beach, while the Packers practiced up the coast at UC Santa Barbara.

And no, the Beach Boys or Jefferson Airplane did not perform the halftime show. This was decades before the theatrics and pyrotechnics with performers like Prince, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce. Super Bowl I featured trumpeter Al Hirt, 300 pigeons, 10,000 balloons, the flying Bell Rocket Air Men, and the marching bands from the University of Arizona and Grambling College. Dancing was provided by Anaheim High School's Ana-Hi-Steppers drill team, who formed the outline of the United States map along with the marching bands. Coincidentally, the show producer's children attended Anaheim High. Remember, they had just a few weeks to pull this show together!


Something must have gone right--like the sunny, rain-free weather--because a total of eight Super Bowls have been held in the City of Angels, with another slated for 2027. Spend time with your family and make memories today watching the game!

While the event didn't make the front page of The Los Angeles Times, it was covered extensively in the Sports section.


Photo: Front page of Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 1967, courtesy of Newspapers.com




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