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Ahalftime show is a performance given during the brief period between the first and second halves, or the second and third quarters, of a sporting event. Halftime shows are not given forsports with an irregular or indeterminate number of divisions (such asbaseball orboxing), or for sports that do not have an extended period of stoppage in play.Ice hockey games consist of three periods, so there are in effect two halftimes at a hockey game: the firstintermission is between the first and second periods, and the second intermission comes between the second and third periods. The intermissions are usually given over to contests involving randomly selected audience members, although for major games, like theWinter Classic, theStanley Cup Finals, theNHL All-Star Game and the men'sFrozen Four, the intermission between the 2nd and 3rd period often features entertainment typically found during halftime shows.[1]
The first instance of a halftime show was in November, 1892 at theUniversity of Nebraska when GeneralJohn J. Pershing required theROTC band to march drills as a part of their performances. This was first showcased at a football game where the band marched drills at halftime. Since the band's military reviews had attracted significant crowds, the goal was to increase attendance at football games by conducting a military review while the team rested between halves.
Others generally attribute the invention of the halftime show toWalter Lingo. Lingo was the owner of a dog kennel and sponsored an all-Native American football team, theOorang Indians, to tour the country and promote the kennel. In addition to playing football, the Indians would provide various forms of entertainment, including exhibiting the dogs, players demonstrating their prowess (Nick Lassa once wrestled a bear whileJim Thorpe would kick long-distance field goals), dancing, and demonstrations of native culture. Although the halftime show was in part designed to bring an additional draw to mask the fact that the Indians did not put much effort into the actual game, his halftime show was mostly the same from game to game, and the novelty wore off after two years.[2][3]
A modern halftime show can consist ofcheerleading performances,majorette routines,marching bands playing music, or other spectacular performances. Halftime shows are particularly well known amonghistorically black colleges and universities, which have elaborate "battles of the bands" between the opposing schools' marching bands during halftimes of the most prominent games (see, for instance, theBayou Classic). More common in modern times, especially in major games, is to reserve the entire halftime period for a short concert by a major recording artist.[citation needed]
The halftime show also often describes television studio shows during the intermission which review scores and stories from across the league's schedule during that break between action.
A halftime show is a traditional element in anAmerican football andCanadian football game. During the interval between the second and third quarters (normally 20 minutes) some form of entertainment is presented on the field. The entertainment frequently consists of performances by marching bands.
Athigh school and mostcollege games, the school bands of the two competing teams perform at halftime with the marching band of the visiting team performing first followed by the marching band of the home team. Often, the cheerleaders and/or a dance team will perform. Other activities may also take place, and these vary widely. Until sometime in the early 1980s, these shows were typically included as part of the broadcast if the game was televised; since that time, it has become traditional for TV networks to devote the halftime to a roundup of other games' scores as well as providing analysis.[citation needed]
During a professional football game, a high school or college band may be brought in to perform. For theSuper Bowl andGrey Cup games, an elaborate show involving musicians, dancers, fireworks and other special effects has become the norm. High-profile acts are generally chosen for their broad appeal, due to the games' large audiences, and choices that deviate from that tend to be poorly received.
Many football historians[who?] believe halftime shows originated with theOorang Indians of the earlyNational Football League. The team was a marketing ploy byWalter Lingo to sell and promote hisAiredale Terriers. He would lure audiences to his games with the promise of an outrageous halftime show, instead of the promise of a good football game. The team was called the Indians because they were made up entirely ofNative Americans, and Oorang came from Lingo's Oorang Kennel Company. The Indians players participated in helping the Oorang Airedales perform tricks for the crowd before and after the game. However, it was their halftime entertainment that made them such a huge attraction in the early 1920s. There were shooting exhibitions with the dogs retrieving the targets. There were Native American dances andtomahawk and knife-throwing demonstrations. Indians playerNick Lassa, also called "Long-Time-Sleep", even wrestled a bear on occasion. Another show was a demonstration of the United States Indian scouts actions duringWorld War I. The show promoted Lingo's kennels by showing the AiredaleRed Cross dogs administering first aid to wounded soldiers. Many of the scouts and Red Cross dogs taking part in the event were real veterans of the war, while theGerman troops were impersonated by localAmerican Legion men who wore German uniforms furnished by Lingo. The halftime activities soon became more important than the results of the game for the Indians fanbase. The Indians only won 3 games in their two seasons of existence.[4][5]
In theUnited States, the halftime show for theSuper Bowl is perhaps the highlight of the event and can cost millions to stage.
On February 1, 2004, the live halftime show forSuper Bowl XXXVIII, produced bymusic video giantMTV,sparked outrage among many viewers whenJustin Timberlake, one of the performers, exposed fellow performerJanet Jackson's rightbreast in what was later dubbed a "wardrobe malfunction". Since it was broadcast live, the exposure was seen by millions when it happened.[citation needed]
InCanada, the halftime show for theGrey Cup is a highlight of the event and can cost millions to stage. Performers over the years have includedJustin Bieber,Shania Twain,Blue Rodeo,Black Eyed Peas,Keith Urban,Green Day andImagine Dragons.
A halftime show is a traditional element in aRugby league andRugby union game during aGrand final.
Due to the time format and fan nature ofassociation football, halftime shows are quite rare for the sport, although there have been halftime shows in major competitions. For example, Colombian singerShakira performed in the halftime show during the2024 Copa América final atHard Rock Stadium inMiami Gardens, Florida.
On September 28, 2024, FIFA announced thatGlobal Citizen would co-produce a halftime show for the2026 FIFA World Cup final inEast Rutherford, New Jersey, the first halftime show in the history of the FIFA World Cup.[6]
