MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022 - COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWLS

 MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022 - COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWLS

Yes, it is upon us!!  Sure - Christmas is less than two weeks away, New Year is less than three weeks away - BUT - College Football bowls are HERE. 

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WHEN DID BOWL GAMES START IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL?

The bowl game's history began with the 1902 Tournament East-West football game, sponsored by the Tournament of Roses Association between Michigan and Stanford, a game in which Michigan won 49-0. The Tournament of Roses eventually sponsored an annual contest starting with the 1916 Tournament East-West Football Game.  The Rose Parade started in 1890 and it seemed to be an excellent attraction to have more than a parade - having a football game made sense. (And, all those Michigan fans would flock to Southern California to get out of the ice and snow, and decide to stay in California!!!)

 

In this case, California and Pasadena California in particular were trying to market how lovely the Southern California area is. 

Some 10 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles is the town of Pasadena, which juts up against the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The town’s name means “of the valley.” It is a scenic area that attracts many tourists, but it is perhaps best known for its annual Tournament of Roses Parade and its Rose Bowl stadium.

The first Tournament of Roses Parade was held on New Year’s Day in 1890, organized by the Pasadena Valley Hunt Club. Horse-drawn carriages were driven in grand style, with the horses and riders decorated in flowers, in a procession through the local streets. This parade was followed by tug-of-war games, polo matches, and other festivities, all designed to celebrate the clement winter weather of the area.

In this case, California and Pasadena California in particular were trying to market how lovely the Southern California area is. 

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BOWL GAMES IN 2022

There are 43 bowl games this year (2022).  The first bowl games are Friday, December 16, and continue until Monday, January 9, 2023 (with the College Football Playoffs National Game).

 

The payoff can get to almost $10 million for a team.  (More later). The games are televised and reach a large audience.  The audience is mostly college-educated males.  An older (2017) article in the Huffington Post said:

 

“DEMOGRAPHICS: NCAA football fans are about 18% more likely to be aged 41-45 (a bit younger than their NFL counterparts) while they are also 26% more likely to be Male over Female, which is a smaller gender gap in comparison to the NFL. Household income is a bit higher than that of the NFL fan, with $125-$150k the most likely range for college football fans.

LIFESTYLE, SPORTS, AND SHOPPING: On gameday, you would be most likely to find NCAA football fans driving to the game in a Ford or GMC pickup, and less likely in a Dodge truck. Our NCAA fans are much more likely to be interested in certain outdoor activities than their NFL counterparts, with a 47% higher likelihood to show interest in Camping and Hiking. Politically, they are more Republican than even the NFL fans, with 20% more likelihood, and are about 7% more likely to donate to religious causes.

 

So - there is your audience - 41-45-year-old males with a nice income, college-educated.
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FOLLOW THE MONEY

So far - there are a lot of bowl games, the payout for colleges can be lucrative, the fans are frequently “glued” to the television sets (and watching commercials for vehicles (cars and trucks), beverages (beer and Dr. Pepper), snacks, pizza, and a slew of other ads. 

 

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SO WHY DID THIS (43 BOWL GAMES) HAPPEN?

 

 

WHAT WERE THE ORIGINAL 5 BOWL GAMES?

 

By 1940, there were five major college bowl games: the Rose Bowl (Pasadena California), the Sugar Bowl (1935) in New Orleans Louisiana, the Cotton Bowl Classic (1937) (Dallas Texas), the Orange Bowl (1935) in Miami Florida, and the Sun Bowl (1935) El Paso, Texas. By 1950, the number had increased to eight games -  by adding the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville Florida, Citrus Bowl in Orlando Florida, and Liberty Bowl in Memphis Tennessee.

 

AND SPONSORSHIPS AND UNUSUAL NAMES

We now have the Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl, the Cricket Celebration Bowl, the LendingTree Bowl, the Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, the Taxslayer Gator Bowl, and even the Tony the Tiger Bowl.  

 

Bowl sponsorships raise more money, but it isn't all money.  The Citrus Bowl, which is Nicknamed “Little Bowl with the Big Heart,” gives all the proceeds from the game went to charity.

 

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Okay Karen, Interesting - but where are you going?  

 

Come back tomorrow for more on college bowl games!!!

 

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © DECEMBER 12, 2022