<P> The leagues ' owners chose the name `` AFL -- NFL Championship Game '' , but in July 1966 the Kansas City Star quoted Hunt in discussing `` the Super Bowl -- that 's my term for the championship game between the two leagues '' , and the media immediately began using the term . Although the league stated in 1967 that `` not many people like it '' , asking for suggestions and considering alternatives such as `` Merger Bowl '' and `` The Game '' , the Associated Press reported that `` Super Bowl '' `` grew and grew and grew - until it reached the point that there was Super Week , Super Sunday , Super Teams , Super Players , ad infinitum '' . `` Super Bowl '' became official beginning with the third annual game . Roman numerals were first affixed for the fifth edition , in January 1971 . </P>
<P> The leagues ' owners chose the name `` AFL -- NFL Championship Game '' , but in July 1966 the Kansas City Star quoted Hunt in discussing `` the Super Bowl -- that 's my term for the championship game between the two leagues '' , and the media immediately began using the term . Although the league stated in 1967 that `` not many people like it '' , asking for suggestions and considering alternatives such as `` Merger Bowl '' and `` The Game '' , the Associated Press reported that `` Super Bowl '' `` grew and grew and grew - until it reached the point that there was Super Week , Super Sunday , Super Teams , Super Players , ad infinitum '' . `` Super Bowl '' became official beginning with the third annual game . Roman numerals were first affixed for the fifth edition , in January 1971 . </P>
when did they start calling it super bowl
when did they start calling it super bowl
July 1966
July 1966