It’s officially Super Bowl week and Valentine’s Day is two weeks from today.
I’ve gone on record saying the Super Bowl for men is like Valentine’s Day for women.
Super Bowl Sunday is a sacred day for most American men. It’s showtime as most guys count down the days, hours, and even minutes to their favorite television day of the year.
As we count down the days to the 60th Super Bowl (LX) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, whether you’re rooting for the New England Patriots or the Seattle Seahawks one thing is for sure, it’s going to be an emotional and exciting two weeks for both men and women alike.
Super Bowl Week is a Big Deal for Men and Women
Women often wonder if men hate Valentine’s Day. A report by Wallet Hub says 53% of women say they’d break up with their significant other if they didn’t get a gift for Valentine’s Day. The same report shows that a staggering 9 million marriage proposals will take place on February 14th.
Plus, Valentine’s Day is the third-largest consumer holiday of the year, with over $18 billion dollars spent in the name of love!
Back to sports, men often wonder if the women are authentically cheering for their favorite team, or if they really like football at all.
Most men don’t want to be distracted by women while watching the game, unless they’re viewing the cheerleaders on TV. Guys wait all year for this day and romance is put on hold until one team gets the ring, one that doesn’t include a diamond center stone with the promise to have and to hold forever.
We know between football pools and the high cost of advertising, this Sunday will be an expensive day for many.
This year, the Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day are six days apart.
With Valentine’s Day being held on a weekend, couples have three full days to celebrate on February 14 – 16.
The pressure on Valentine’s Day is enormous. The pressure for your favorite team to win the title of Super Bowl Champion is at an all-time high.
Valentine’s Day IS the Super Bowl of Dating
These next two weeks are truly a double-header, so enjoy the ride. Most men won’t even make a dinner reservation or ask a someone to be their Valentine until after Super Bowl Sunday.
I encourage you not to wait until the last minute to ask your date to be your Valentine, or you might find out that she’s made other plans.
RELATED: Valentine’s Countdown: How to Land a Date
Whether you’re a sports fan or a hopeless romantic, comparing the two will help you understand how important these days are for the opposite sex.
Why do I think the Super Bowl for men is like Valentine’s Day for women?
Quite simply, both men and women put all of their emotional energies into these two bigger-than-life events. Often, a woman doesn’t understand why watching two teams trying to score is so important to her guy. He just can’t miss this game. It’s the end of the season and the two best teams go for the ring.
Guys on the other hand, simply don’t understand that if you’re dating a woman and forget to plan something, just anything, for Valentine’s Day, you probably won’t get a date with her on February 15th, which ironically is “Singles Awareness Day” or any day after.
Guys, if you’re playing the field swiping right and left on mobile dating apps, or flirting on Tinder and Instagram, if you don’t ask our your digital crush, you lose.
Game over.
Men wait all year for the Super Bowl, this big day in television. Women wait for Valentine’s Day, with the hope that their special guy will either propose, offer to take his online dating profile down, or say “I love you” for the first time.
Women even secretly hope that the guy they are dating might want to change his Facebook status from ‘Single’ to ‘In a Relationship,’ or post an announcement on Instagram.
It’s on the digital wish list for women, period.
Are you Prepared for Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day?
Most men are always prepared for the Super Bowl. They decide which venue to view the game at and with whom they would like to spend watching the teams battle it out.
Women like to be prepared for Valentine’s Day. They start giving little hints out a month in advance about their favorite romantic restaurant, post photos of jewelry or trinkets on instagram and facebook, all with the hope the the guy they’re dating will take the cue and book a reservation before their favorite eatery is fully booked.
However in contrast, when a man’s favorite team loses the Super Bowl, he will be disappointed, but will get over it. He’ll know there’s another chance next year and will spend the entire football season rooting for his team. If a woman’s favorite beau, or someone she is dating ,doesn’t ask her out for Valentine’s Day, she won’t get over it. Expect a breakup or a big confrontation.
RELATED: 10 Valentine’s Date Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank
RELATED: 10 Valentine’s Date Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank
She’ll assume he’s romancing another woman and will know she’s not on the top of his list. Chances are, his shelf life as her “number one guy” will immediately expire. Unless he’s out of town on business or in a long-distance relationship, he won’t get another chance to romance her. No woman wants to be at the bottom of the dating totem pole, especially on Valentine’s Day. Expect to be unfriended, or don’t be surprised if she doesn’t return your phone calls or texts.
So whether you like football or not, love or hate Valentine’s Day, remember to talk to the person you are dating about what these days mean to both of you. If you’re single, use this opportunity to accept all invitations for both the Super Bowl and Valentine’s singles mixers. Even if your team loses and you’re dateless on the 14th, you’ll be casting a wider net and expanding your social circle.
Go ahead and accept that Super Bowl party invitation. If you’re single, you just might find a date in time for Valentine’s as well. It’s a win-win for everyone.
If you need help leading into Valentine’s Day, The Valentine’s Dating Playbook: Cuffing Season’s Final Act will give you tips in the final countdown.
Which team will you be rooting for this Super Bowl and do you love, or hate Valentine’s Day?
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Julie Spira is the Digital Matchmaker® and America's Top Online Dating Expert. She's an award-winning certified dating coach who's been helping singles find their perfect match for over three decades. Follow @JulieSpira on IG and @digitalmatchmaker on TikTok.