The Super Bowl is normally a time for gathering with friends and family, chiding one another over our sports allegiances, and putting down cold beer and hot wings. But this year, things are a little…different.
First, there is a growing sense of angst regarding the Super Bowl halftime show, which features a number of hip hop artists who’ve spent their careers either objectifying women, or glorifying violence against women and via gang culture.
And then there’s the potential for a “Freedom Trucker” convoy to ruin the whole thing by shutting down the highways leading to and from the stadium.
The latest wrinkle of the weekend comes to us at the grocery store, where one of the Super Bowl’s most precious dishes has gotten a lot more expensive.
The National Chicken Council has projected that wing consumption will be in line with last year’s numbers at around 1.42 billion on game day, and while the organization doesn’t anticipate folks will have trouble finding wings at stores and restaurants like they have at times since COVID-19 first hit – they say consumers should be prepared to pony up more out of pocket.
“There will be no wing shortage,” NCC spokesperson Tom Super said in a statement. “Like almost anything else you buy right now, wings might be a little more expensive, but they’ll be stocked. I just wouldn’t wait until kickoff to be in line or order online.”
The jump was absurd.
Compared to this time last year, the retail cost of wings is up an average of $0.30 per pound despite inventory for the coveted Super Bowl fare being up 70% from last year.
And, if the NFL’s controversial overtime rules hadn’t kept the Buffalo Bills out of the game, there’s no telling how hard it would be to find or afford the team’s signature dish.
