THE glittering showpiece conclusion to another National Football League season is almost upon us.
Super Bowl LI is set to take place in Houston this weekend, with the NFL’s finest teams battling for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of the big game…
When is the Super Bowl? What time does it start?
This year’s final – Super Bowl LI – will take place on Sunday, February 5.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 6.30pm ET, which is 11.30pm GMT.
A lengthy break for the half-time music performance, means we can expect it to finish around 3.30am – so it may be worth booking that Monday off work.
Which teams are playing in the Super Bowl?
The New England Patriots will face the Atlanta Falcons in a bid to take home the Vince Lomardi trophy.
The Atlanta Falcons booked their place with a dominant win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.
The Patriots, meanwhile, swept aside the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.
This is the New England Patriots’ ninth Super Bowl Final, and the Atlanta Falcons’ first Super Bowl since 1998.
Where is the 2017 Super Bowl being held?
The Super Bowl is going to be held at the impressive home of the Houston Texans – the NRS Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The stadium is able to hold 71,795 spectators and also hosts the Texas Bowl, international soccer games, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
This is the third time the city will host the event, and the second time it has taken place at the stadium since it opened in 2002.
During the 2014 Super Bowl XXXVIII, where the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29, Janet Jackson infamously had a wardrobe malfunction that exposed her right breast.
What is the Super Bowl?
Simply put, the Super Bowl is the championship final in the NFL.
Its appeal goes far beyond hardcore American football followers as the whole of the US and sports fans across the world tune in to one of the biggest annual events.
A “Bowl” game in American football is a clash between champions and happen at all levels of the game.
In college football there are many – some more important than others – but in the NFL, there’s only one – the Super Bowl.
With the league split into two conferences, the Super Bowl pits the AFC champion against the NFC champion for the right to be called world champions.
How can I watch the 2017 Super Bowl in the UK?
The Super Bowl will be shown live in the UK on both BBC and Sky Sports.
In the United States, the game will be broadcast by Fox this year, meaning that Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be the commentary team.
Who is performing at half time in the Super Bowl?
The half-time show is one of the biggest stages on which any musician could wish to perform with over 100 million people in America watching, and many more worldwide.
Recent acts have included, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Beyonce and Madonna.
But the honour this year goes to Lady Gaga.
She previously performed a tremendous rendition of the US national anthem, Star Spangled Banner, at the Super Bowl 50 in February 2016.
Who is going to win the Super Bowl?
New England were slight underdogs when they won the Super Bowl in 2015, but this time they're favourites.
Sun Bets is offering 13/20 on a Patriots win, and 5/4 on the Atlanta Falcons.
Get the latest Super Bowl odds from Sun Bets.
Why is it called the Super Bowl LI?
This year the Super Bowl is back being named using Roman numerals.
Last year, for the first time, officials named the event Super Bowl 50, breaking from tradition.
In Roman numerals, “L” is 50, so the archaic letters “LI” translate as 51.
The league has used Roman numerals for its name every year since the Super Bowl V back in 1971.
What happened at the 2016 Super Bowl 50?
At last year's event, the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers with a result of 24-10.
The CBS broadcast of the game drew in an average of 111.9million viewers, making it the third most-watched program in American television history.
Coldplay was the headline act for the half time entertainment, with special guest performers Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.
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