The Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The game was founded in 2006 and has had several different title sponsors over the years, including PapaJohns.com, BBVA Compass, and most recently Ticketmaster.
Opening Paragraphs Answering Key Questions
The Birmingham Bowl is one of the many postseason college football bowl games that take place each year after the regular season has concluded. Bowl games provide one final game for teams to compete in and an opportunity for seniors to end their collegiate careers.
The Birmingham Bowl specifically features teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), American Athletic Conference (AAC), Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Conference USA (C-USA). An SEC or AAC team usually faces an opponent from the MAC or C-USA.
The game takes place at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Legion Field is a large outdoor stadium that can seat over 71,000 spectators. It opened in 1927 and has hosted many historic events over the decades, including the Iron Bowl rivalry between Alabama and Auburn.
The Birmingham Bowl was founded in 2006 by ESPN Regional Television as the PapaJohns.com Bowl. It was renamed the BBVA Compass Bowl in 2010 when BBVA Compass took over sponsorship. Then in 2014, the bowl got its current Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl title after Ticketmaster became the sponsor.
Over the years, the Birmingham Bowl has traditionally taken place in late December or early January around the same time as other major bowl games around the New Year. The exact date varies each season.
So in summary, the Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl is played at Legion Field stadium in Birmingham, Alabama every year in late December/early January. It features teams from the SEC, AAC, MAC and C-USA conferences.
History and Background
As mentioned, the Birmingham Bowl was founded in 2006 under the name PapaJohns.com Bowl after the pizza chain became the title sponsor. It was created to be one of many additional college bowl games added in the mid-2000s to pair up teams that did not qualify for the major bowl games on New Year’s Day or the BCS National Championship.
The first PapaJohns.com Bowl featured the Southern Miss Golden Eagles defeating the Ohio Bobcats by a score of 28–7 on December 23, 2006. Around 32,000 spectators attended the inaugural game at Legion Field.
In 2010, the bowl changed sponsors and names to become the BBVA Compass Bowl after BBVA Compass bank signed on. The 2010 game saw the Connecticut Huskies beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 20–7.
After four years as the BBVA Compass Bowl, it switched its sponsorship to Ticketmaster in 2014. Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world, so it was a natural fit for their brand.
Over its history, the Birmingham Bowl has primarily featured teams from Conference USA and the Southeastern Conference. The American Athletic Conference and Mid-American Conference have also frequently sent teams to compete.
Some notable teams that have participated include South Florida (2005), Cincinnati (2007), Florida State (2006), Miami (2006), Missouri (2008), Auburn (2015), Memphis (2015), Mississippi State (2011, 2016) and Texas Tech (2013).
The SEC has an agreement with the Birmingham Bowl to provide a team when it does not qualify for the College Football Playoff or other major bowls on New Year’s Day. Similarly, the AAC also provides teams to the game.
Game Details and Logistics
The Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl takes place annually at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Legion Field is a large stadium that can seat over 71,000 fans for football games.
The city of Birmingham has hosted the game since its inception in 2006. Birmingham is centrally located in the state of Alabama and has a metropolitan population of over 1 million people. It provides a good geographic location to attract both participating teams’ fans as well as general college football fans across the South.
The game is usually played in primetime on a weeknight in late December or early January. In recent years it has been scheduled on the Thursday night one week before Christmas or on New Year’s Eve. But the date shifts each season depending on the college football calendar.
ESPN has broadcast the Birmingham Bowl each year on one of its TV channels like ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC. The network also operates and promotes the bowl as part of its slate of postseason college football offerings.
In terms of logistics, Birmingham hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions get a boost during the Bowl week. Thousands of fans come into the city needing places to stay and things to do while supporting their teams.
The local organizing committee also hosts special events during the days leading up to the game, such as luncheons, banquets and pep rallies to get fans excited and allow the teams to be welcomed.
So in many ways, Birmingham becomes the center of the college football universe for a few days in late December thanks to the Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl.
Matchups and Results
Here is a rundown of notable Birmingham Bowl matchups and results over the years:
Season | Matchup | Result |
---|---|---|
2006 | Southern Miss vs. Ohio | Southern Miss 28, Ohio 7 |
2007 | Cincinnati vs. Southern Miss | Cincinnati 31, Southern Miss 21 |
2008 | South Carolina vs. Memphis | Memphis 41, South Carolina 14 |
2009 | South Florida vs. Northern Illinois | South Florida 27, NIU 3 |
2010 | Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky | Pittsburgh 27, Kentucky 10 |
2011 | Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest | Miss State 23, Wake 17 |
2012 | Pittsburgh vs. Ole Miss | Ole Miss 38, Pitt 17 |
2013 | Houston vs. Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt 41, Houston 24 |
2014 | South Carolina vs. Miami | South Carolina 24, Miami 21 |
2015 | Auburn vs. Memphis | Memphis 31, Auburn 10 |
2016 | South Florida vs. South Carolina | South Florida 46, SC 39 OT |
2017 | Texas Tech vs. USF | USF 38, Texas Tech 34 |
2018 | Wake Forest vs. Memphis | Wake 37, Memphis 34 |
2019 | Cincinnati vs. Boston College | BC 38, Cincinnati 6 |
As you can see, there have been some close, high-scoring thrillers and also some blowout results over the years. The American Athletic Conference and SEC have fared well in recent matchups.
Bowl Week Activities
In the days leading up to the big game, there are many special events and activities in Birmingham to get fans excited and welcome the two teams:
- Team arrivals – Fans greet teams at airport/train station upon arrival in Birmingham
- Welcome events – Luncheons, dinners, rallies with cheerleaders and mascots
- Coaches press conferences – Coaches speak to media before the game
- Team practices – Teams hold practices at local facilities during the week
- Player outreach events – Teams visit children’s hospitals and take part in community service
- Bowl game eve parade – Parade through Birmingham on Dec 23 or Dec 30 usually
- Mayor’s New Year’s Eve party (when game is on Dec 31)
- Fan festivals – Music, food trucks and games around downtown Birmingham
The local organizing committee and tourism officials really roll out the red carpet for the teams and fans making the trip to the Birmingham Bowl each year. The events give everyone a taste of Southern hospitality.
Economic Impact
Birmingham enjoys significant economic benefits from hosting the Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl each year. A study found that the bowl generated an estimated $17 million in economic impact for the city in 2015.
Highlights of the financial boost include:
- Over $7 million in direct spending from visiting teams and fans
- Around $5 million in salaries and wages paid
- 1,300 local jobs supported
- Hundreds of thousands in tax revenue
Hotels, restaurants, retailers, transportation services and tourist attractions all see extra business during bowl week. The long-term benefits also include valuable national TV exposure for Birmingham.
Future and Conclusion
The Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl has become a staple of the college football bowl schedule over the past 15+ years. Its ties with powerful conferences like the SEC and AAC should help provide compelling matchups for years to come.
There is always a chance the bowl could change sponsorship or shift conference tie-ins, but it seems positioned for longevity at Legion Field.
Birmingham has proven to be an excellent host city with its central location, strong facilities, vibrant downtown and community support. The bowl generates national attention and a nice economic boost each year.
Look for the Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl to continue showcasing high-level college football teams and bringing excitement to Birmingham in late December for many years to come.