Another day, another potentially creative use of an auction mechanism. According to this report in the Wall Street Journal, the NFL has reportedly requested its top three choices for the 2015 Super Bowl Halftime Show — Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Coldplay (Cold…who?) — to pay the league for the privilege of performing at halftime. (By the way, why didn’t Lady Gaga make the shortlist?) In any case, is this not a textbook example of a reverse auction? (Photo courtesy of MTV.)

Where does the bidding start?