In January 1967, the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers played in the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game, now known as Super Bowl I. The game was played at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
This was the first time the champions of the AFL and NFL played to end the season. The two leagues agreed to a merger earlier in 1966, but it would take four years to become one league.
How Was Super Bowl 1’s Stadium Selected?
The Los Angeles Coliseum was selected because the AFL and NFL wanted to play in a temperate climate city with a large population. The Rose Bowl was considered, but there was resistance to playing a professional football game in a stadium known for college football. The Orange Bowl in Miami, the Astrodome in Houston, and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans were also considered for hosting the game.
MORE: Who Won the First Super Bowl in NFL History?
NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle cited the warm weather and the stadium’s ability to hold 93,000 people when he announced the Los Angeles Coliseum was selected. The attendance for the game was just under 62,000, with thousands of empty seats.
The Los Angeles Coliseum also hosted Super Bowl VII between Miami and Washington. The Orange Bowl ended up hosting five of the first 13 Super Bowls. The Sugar Bowl, also known as Tulane Stadium, hosted three of the first nine Super Bowls. The Superdome replaced Tulane Stadium as the New Orleans Super Bowl site and has hosted seven games.
The Astrodome was the only site considered to host Super Bowl I that never hosted the game. Houston would eventually host Super Bowl XXXVIII in Reliant Stadium and would get another game 13 years later.
The Rose Bowl ended up being the site for the game for Super Bowl XI, the first of five Super Bowls played there.
Iconic Sports Venue
Los Angeles Coliseum has hosted several major events outside the two Super Bowls. It has been the home for three NFL teams: the Rams, Raiders, and Chargers. The Rams played there from 1946 to 1979 before moving to Anaheim and another four years from 2016 to 2019 after the team moved back from St. Louis.
The stadium has also been home to some of the area’s most popular teams. USC football has called the Coliseum home since 1923, and UCLA played there from 1933 to 1981 before moving to the Rose Bowl. The Los Angeles Dodgers also played at the Coliseum for three seasons after moving from Brooklyn.
The Los Angeles Coliseum has held two Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984 and will also be used in 2028. It has been the site for the opening and closing ceremonies, along with track and field competitions.
Packers Dominated the Game
Heading into the game, there were doubts about the AFL’s ability to play with an NFL team, and the Chiefs only trailed 14-10 at halftime. Green Bay took control of the game in the second half and outscored Kansas City by 21 points for a 35-10 win.
Packers quarterback Bart Starr passed for two touchdowns and was named the game’s MVP. Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi said the Chiefs were a good team but didn’t compare to the NFL teams.
The game was shown on two networks because the AFL had a deal with NBC, and the NFL had a deal with CBS. It is the only time the Super Bowl was broadcast on two networks.
The Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II, and the Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV in the last game before the two leagues merged. The Chiefs win was the second straight win for the AFL after the New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!