What Time Does The 2014 Super Bowl Halftime Show Start?

For four quarters on Sunday night, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will battle to win Super Bowl XLVIII. What happens in between those quarters, though, is also a major part of the big game.

The contest itself is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Halftime in most NFL games usually begins about an hour after kickoff. However, the Super Bowl features more commercials than a normal game. This year’s halftime show is expected to begin a little after 8 p.m. ET.

In 2013, Beyonce took the stage at approximately 8:10 p.m. ET. The halftime show drew 104 million viewers, which was down slightly from the 108 million who tuned into the game.

However, there have been times when the halftime show has done higher ratings than the game itself. Super Bowl XLVI set a record with 111.3 million viewers, but was outdone by the halftime show. Madonna’s performance was seen by 112.5 million people.

This year, Bruno Mars is set to perform in between the second and third quarter. The Red Hot Chili Peppers will join the headliner. A regular season game has a halftime of 12 minutes, but the intermission at the Super Bowl lasts about a half hour. The singers are expected to entertain the fans for approximately 14 minutes.

The 2014 show will be unlike any other. Never has a singer or band been asked to perform in weather like what the New York/New Jersey area will see on Sunday. While there may be no precipitation, it will undoubtedly be cold. Past Super Bowls have been played outdoors in warm-weather cities or in dome stadiums.

Bruno Mars might not be greatly affected by the cold, but it could alter how the Chili Peppers play their music. The band’s members, who are known for often being shirtless when they play in front of live crowds, may be forced to alter their usual routine.

As much as the Super Bowl commercials draw non-sports fans to the game, so does the halftime show. The spectacle is often viewed by people who could care less about the outcome of the contest.

Some of the most famous musical acts have performed at the Super Bowl. In the past 10 years alone, the likes of The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Prince and The Rolling Stones have graced the stage on Super Bowl Sunday.