Belizeans Celebrate Superbowl Sunday

Belizeans across the country gathered to watch the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Superbowl Fifty-Nine. The Chiefs were aiming for a historic three-peat, while the Eagles were hoping for an upset. Although American football isn’t the most popular sport in Belize, Superbowl Sunday brings its own excitement. Diehard fans eagerly watched to see their team win, while casual viewers enjoyed the commercials and the halftime show. News Five’s Paul Lopez was out and about on Superbowl Sunday to capture crowd reactions at various hangout spots. Here’s his report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

As Superbowl Fifty-Nine kicked off between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, the Riverside Tavern was packed with excited spectators. This is the one time of year when Belizeans are fully immersed in American football, whether they’re cheering for the game, enjoying the memorable commercials, or eagerly awaiting the highly anticipated halftime show.

 

Superbowl Viewer, Eagles Fan

“Eagles have always been my team in the league, especially when it came to fletcher cox. He was one of my most idolized players. A few years ago, when they won the Superbowl with him in defense. So, I have always been stuck on them.”

 

Paul Lopez

“A touch down from Eagles, what are you thinking right now?”

 

Amanda Tillett, Chiefs Fan

“We are in it for the long haul, no worries. The Chief can come back. If you saw the last game, the one to qualify, you know what Chief are made of.”

The Eagles first quarter, seven-point lead certainly had Chiefs fans on the edge of their seats, and Eagles fans ecstatic.

Jessie Benson, Eagles Fan

“First off yes, the Eagles are up right now, which is great. Patrick Mahomes needs to come work for Aquity, the best call center in Belize.”

 

Superbowl Viewer, Chiefs Fan

“It is still early, it is still the first quarter, we still have three more to go. We have a lot of time to go, so there is still plenty of time for us to come back.”

Next, we headed over to Social Lounge, where Eagles fans were thrilled as their team extended its lead. Chiefs’ fans, however, were still clinging to hope, relying on quarterback Pat Mahomes to turn the game around. The atmosphere was electric, with emotions running high on both sides.

 

Candice Hamilton, Eagles Fan

“I am rooting for the underdogs this time, no Swifty. So far it is going well, for me I think they started a little slow, playing a lot, losing the ball a lot, but these finals minutes they are stepping it up. I am loving it.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What are you most excited about, the game or the half-time show. Are you a Kendrick Lamar fan?”

 

Candice Hamilton

“No, I am not, OVO, OVO.”

 

Malaki Everette, Chiefs Fan

“Patrick Mahomes, all the ways. He is one of the greatest right now.”
 

This was the moment we all sat back to enjoy the highly anticipated Kendrick Lamar halftime show. The excitement in the air was palpable as everyone eagerly awaited his performance. While Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show was exhilarating, the excitement wasn’t over yet—a Superbowl champion still had to be crowned. The anticipation was building as fans eagerly awaited the outcome. Going into the third, the Chiefs were down twenty-four points to zero and they desperately needed a Mahomes miracle. We then made our way to Di Bruwry to catch up with the crowd, including celebrity fan Jubril from Passport Heavy.

 

Jubril Agoro, Eagles Fan

“It isn’t looking good at all for the Chiefs. This shirt, you may need to take it off.

 

Paul Lopez

“It is surprising to you any at all, that here in Belize there is a fan base and people interested in the Superbowl?”

 

Jubril Agoro

“Yeah, this venue and the fanbase, I am definitely surprised. I was like, alright let me go see. I was like oh shit we got real fans. I didn’t know it was going to be like this. Looking at the score, if I had to put money on it, it is the birds baby, it’s the bird.”

 

Early in the fourth quarter, it looked like the Eagles were on their way to a sure victory. One spectator was so confident that he even offered me a T-shirt to soften the blow of the Chiefs’ impending defeat. The Eagles went on to become the Super Bowl Fifty-Nine Champions.

 

Eagles Fan

“Woooee. That is baby, Eagles all the way. Blessed, happy happy, deh with the family, blessed, can’t complain. We love the results, hundred percent. Especially with Hurts at the helm, couldn’t doubt him, from that first touchdown, fantastic.”

 

Chiefs Fan

“We the ride or die breda man, we the ride or die. No, we the dead.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How you feel.”

Chiefs Fan

“Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.”

Paul Lopez

“We nuh win it this time, but next year.”

 

Chiefs Fan

“But, I nuh like how yo hide it.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez