SIDEbar goes international

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This week’s SIDEbar visits Radio Row for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans where I looked at the NFL’s growing popularity outside of the U.S. For this, I reconnected with Telemundo broadcasters Rolando Cantu and Miguel Gurwitz.

Below is a synopsis of our conversation. I’ll post the full video before kickoff Sunday. Enjoy.

Rolando Cantu, a former Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman and current Sunday Night Football analyst for Telemundo, broke down the NFL’s global expansion during the past 20 years. He pointed to the league’s success in Mexico, Spain and Brazil, where fans have embraced international games. Engaging these communities, he said, is key to growing the sport worldwide.

Miguel Gurwitz, the Thursday Night Football en Español play-by-play announcer since 2022, added that Spanish-language broadcasts are crucial in making the game more accessible to international audiences. In addition to his TNF role, Miguel is a sports anchor for NBC Telemundo and hosts the Mother Soccer podcast.

Keep the Super Bowl in the United States

Our conversation included discussing the potential of the Super Bowl being played abroad, to which the broadcasters said, “NO.” Rolando and Miguel were firm: the game should stay in the U.S. While the league’s international push makes sense, they agreed that the Super Bowl’s cultural significance and the energy it brings to American cities are unmatched.

Catch Miguel, Rolando, and Tony as they call Super Bowl LIX this Sunday on Telemundo.

Forgive typos this week. Unlike previous weeks when you’re entitled to call me out. 😁

© 2025 Gail Sideman, gpublicity.com

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