Bowl Week activities also cancelled in San Diego County
SAN DIEGO, Calif., (October 22, 2020) – Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Holiday Bowl officials announced today that the 43rd annual game will not be played this December. The decision was made by a unanimous vote of its Board of Directors.
“This has been the most difficult decision our Board has ever had to make since our bowl game started in 1978,” said Holiday Bowl CEO Mark Neville. “While it’s not the decision we wanted to make, it’s the right decision for our non-profit association and the community for the long term.”
The mission of the San Diego Bowl Game Association is to generate tourism and economic benefit for the San Diego region by presenting one of the nation’s most exciting and popular post-season college football games – the Holiday Bowl. Over the last decade, the effort has averaged $31 million in economic benefit and more than 28,000 hotel room nights annually for the San Diego region. The Holiday Bowl plays in late December, which is typically the slowest tourism period of the year in San Diego.
“This decision was particularly difficult because our tourism industry has taken such a hit due to the pandemic,” Neville said. “The virus has created a situation in that we wouldn’t be able to welcome fans, ultimately resulting in no tourism. Couple that with the financial and potential health risks of trying to play the game during this pandemic and it was clear this was the right decision for us.”
This year’s Holiday Bowl was to be the first of a new six-year cycle that was going to match top teams from the Pac-12 and ACC. The game was set to be televised by FOX Sports for the fourth straight year.
“With the support of our volunteers, sponsors, conferences and our broadcast partner, the game will return in 2021 stronger than ever and with unparalleled enthusiasm,” said 2020 Bowl Association President Dan Moore. “We are fortunate to have a strong relationship with our title sponsor SDCCU, FOX Sports, the ACC, the Pac-12 and many others. While we all share the disappointment with the decision, each has been understanding and very supportive.”
The bowl’s traditional Bowl Week events have also been cancelled for 2020, including the nationally televised Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade.
Recognizing that San Diego is a premier tourist destination, the mission of the non-profit 501(c)(3) San Diego Bowl Game Association is to generate tourism, visibility and economic impact for the San Diego region by producing the Holiday Bowl and other outstanding events and experiences for visitors and local fans of all ages. Since 1978, the association has generated nearly $1 billion in economic benefit for the region.
