Birmingham Bowl returns to Legion Field, brings media spotlight to city

Legion Field will host the 13th annual Birmingham Bowl college football game at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. Presented by ESPN Events, the game features teams from the Southeastern Conference and the American Athletic Conference, according to a bowl news release. 

The game is “a fantastic time to show your support of not only the teams playing, but also the city of Birmingham,” said Mark Meadows, the event's executive director, in the release.

The game’s national TV broadcast will bring positive exposure for the Magic City, according to Meadows. “This Saturday morning time slot on ESPN will be a great national showcase for our city,” he said.

"The Birmingham Bowl also brings in numerous media outlets outside of our local market that cover the bowl and Birmingham," Meadows told Iron City Ink..

Since the bowl’s creation in 2006, it’s generated $145 million in economic impact, Meadows said, citing statistics from the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau..

The bowl game "helps fill Birmingham area hotels at a time of year when occupancy is typically low," Meadows said. "Fans from the two teams are encouraged to arrive early during bowl week to experience everything our city has to offer."

Those attendees are encouraged to "enjoy the great culinary scene in Birmingham, as well as (he city's) nationally recognized historic districts," he said.

In last year’s matchup, South Florida beat Texas Tech 38-34 with an attendance of 28,623.

The game’s record crowd of about 59,000 attended in 2015 when Auburn beat Memphis 31-10, according to Meadows.

Reserved seats are $50. General admission corner seats are $30. Group tickets are available. For an additional $10, ticket buyers receive a “Magic City Pass” that allows them to tour several local tourist attractions.

For tickets or more information, go to birminghambowl.com.