What Year Was Super Bowl 42
Super Bowl 42 took place in 2008. The game was played on February 3, 2008, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. This marked the first time the Super Bowl was held in Arizona. The event was part of the 2007 NFL season and concluded with the New York Giants defeating the New England Patriots 17 to 14. The game is widely remembered for its defensive intensity and last-minute drama. It remains a key reference point in Super Bowl numbering and scheduling history. For broader context on NFL financial and broadcasting trends, see this overview from Forbes.
The 2007 regular season set the stage for this matchup, with both teams finishing as top seeds in their respective conferences. The Giants earned a spot in Super Bowl 42 by winning the NFC Championship, while the Patriots advanced as AFC champions. The game aired live on Fox and drew an estimated 97.5 million viewers in the United States. It was the most-watched Super Bowl at the time and highlighted the growing scale of the league's media rights and advertising market. The broadcast revenue and ad pricing for that year are often cited in discussions of NFL economics.
Super Bowl 42 Date, Location, and Final Score
The official date of Super Bowl 42 was February 3, 2008. The venue was the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, which was temporarily expanded for the event. The game kicked off in the late afternoon and concluded in the evening, with the Giants securing a 17 to 14 victory over the Patriots. The final score is one of the closest in Super Bowl history and is frequently referenced in rankings of most competitive championship games. The game's location and timing are important data points for fans researching historical Super Bowl schedules.
The halftime show featured Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, while the main broadcast was handled by Fox Sports. The game was played in a retractable-roof stadium, and weather conditions were controlled to ensure a standard playing environment. The Giants' defense, led by players such as Michael Strahan and Brandon Jacobs, played a central role in the outcome. The Patriots entered the game undefeated in the regular season, making the result a major upset in sports history. Detailed play-by-play data and box scores are available through official NFL sources.
Super Bowl 42 Winner and Key Figures
The New York Giants won Super Bowl 42, securing their fourth Super Bowl title in franchise history. Quarterback Eli Manning was named the game's Most Valuable Player after leading a late-game drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress. The victory was especially significant because it came against the previously undefeated New England Patriots. The Giants' coaching staff, led by Tom Coughlin, implemented a defensive game plan that limited New England's high-powered offense. The result is often cited in analyses of Super Bowl upsets and defensive performance.
The financial impact of Super Bowl 42 extended beyond the field, with the host city and region seeing a significant boost in tourism and hospitality revenue. The NFL's media rights deals, which were negotiated around that period, reflected the league's expanding global audience and digital presence. For information on the league's corporate structure and financial reporting, see the official NFL records and the SEC filings related to major sports leagues. The game also influenced future Super Bowl hosting decisions, with Arizona gaining credibility as a viable host city for major sporting events.