Fiesta Bowl Tickets

The Fiesta Bowl 2016 will be played between Clemson and Ohio State, two of the best college football teams. Commentators and spectators are expecting an exceptional game.

Origins and History

While the Fiesta Bowl was first played in 1971, it roots were in Western Athletic Conference’s desire to be invited to a bowl. Wyoming in 1968 and Arizona State in 1969, failed to get any invitation to a bowl. In 1970, Arizona State was once again overlooked and therefore had to appear in the Peach Bowl, considered to be less prestigious among the bowls. As a result, the Western Athletic Conference started its own bowl – the Fiesta Bowl.

The 1970s Decade

In its first decade, the bowl was played in the last week of December. The inaugural game was played between Arizona and Florida State.  In 1974, the game was played between BYU and Oklahoma State. BYU, at the time was coached by a future Hall of Famer, Lavell Edwards. In 1975, Nebraska faced off Arizona State. In 1977, Penn State played against Arizona State.

The 1980s Decade

By the end of the 1970s, the Fiesta Bowl had become as big as the other college bowls and therefore it was shifted to New Year’s Day, when other college bowls are played. The bowl continued to grow in terms of quality of matches and attracting sponsors. The Fiesta Bowl 1986 was the first Fiesta Bowl game which was sponsored by Sunkist and therefore it started to be called the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl.

The 80s were otherwise significant for the bowl as well. After 1986, two top college football teams, Penn State and Miami announced to play their national championship in the Fiesta Bowl. This game was historic – Penn State defeated Miami 14-10 and the game became the most watched on television in the history of college football.  By the late 1980s, the Fiesta Bowl started to be considered as prestigious as the other bowls with top teams playing in Arizona.

The 1990s Decade

The Fiesta Bowl started off shaky in the 1990s. This was due to the fact that Arizona had declined to adopt the Martin Luther King Day, as a national holiday. As a result, many teams declined to play in the bowl. However, it changed in 1992 and the day was adopted as a holiday by Arizona voters. The Fiesta Bowl only grew in prestige during this decade and by 1999, the bowl was hosting the Big 12 Conference.

The 21^st Century Fiesta Bowl

2007 is important in the history of the bowl, since the Fiesta Bowl 2007 game was played at the University of Phoenix Stadium. In this game, Boise State squared off against Oklahoma. Boise State won 43-42 in overtime. This game has also been dubbed as one of the greatest college football games ever played.

The Fiesta Bowl is Bigger than Football

The Fiesta Bowl showcases more than a football game between two competing college football teams. In downtown Phoenix, the annual Bank of Arizona Fiesta Bowl Parade takes place in which the marching bands from the two competing teams as well as bands from local high schools participate. There are floral floats, equestrian units and a local queen in the parade. The parade has its own Grand Marshals, which are selected from sports and entertainment industry. In short, the Fiesta Bowl is a fun-filled family event for all. So get your Fiesta Bowl tickets now before they all run out and be part of Arizona’s very own tradition. 

Ohio State and Clemson Will Face Off at the 2019 Fiesta Bowl

The Ohio State Buckeyes, fresh from their Big Ten Championship win, are set to take on the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champions Clemson Tigers in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. This intriguing clash will take place at the State Farm Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, on December 28, 2019. With a place in the College Football Playoff National Championship 2020 up for grabs, both teams will be raring to go when they step onto the field three days before the new year. Fans of both sides are eager to get their hands on Fiesta Bowl tickets. If you are interested in enjoying a great game too, order your passes at the first opportunity.