The scene is fully arranged for the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl sponsored by Gin and Juice from Dr. Dre and Snoop. The teams were revealed on Sunday — Colorado State from the Mountain West and Miami (Ohio) from the Mid-American Conference — for the contest on Dec. 28 at 2:30 p.m. at Arizona Stadium. The […]
The scene is fully arranged for the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl sponsored by Gin and Juice from Dr. Dre and Snoop.
The teams were revealed on Sunday — Colorado State from the Mountain West and Miami (Ohio) from the Mid-American Conference — for the contest on Dec. 28 at 2:30 p.m. at Arizona Stadium. The event will air on the CW.
Given Snoop Dogg’s involvement, there’s much riding on this year’s Arizona Bowl, now in its 10th iteration, positioning the game as part of a larger celebration rather than merely the focus.
This will be the most extensive event lineup in the bowl’s entire history.
“It’s the largest both in terms of national visibility and the additional activities we have organized,” remarked Arizona Bowl executive director Kym Adair. “It’s significant and something we’re thrilled to provide for Southern Arizona.”
.@theARIZONABOWL executive director @KymAdair shares insights about the comprehensive festivities surrounding the Dec. 28 game at Arizona Stadium with @SnoopDogg as the signature sponsor – featuring an XBox gaming competition and a national youth football tournament with 24 teams, among other highlights. This marks the largest… pic.twitter.com/xQfijX6tus
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 8, 2024
In addition to the matchup:
— Snoop Dogg, the legendary American rapper, actor, record producer, and media figure, will showcase a new range of premium Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop flavors.
— A gaming tournament backed by X-Box.
— The SNOOPER Bowl, a nationwide event with 24 youth football teams taking place in the week preceding the Arizona Bowl, featuring competitions at Arizona and Rillito Park. As a supporter of youth, Snoop Dogg founded the Snoop Youth Football League 17 years ago, which has helped over 40 children reach the NFL. Through the SYFL, the Snoop Special Stars initiative ensures inclusion for kids with various disabilities. “I’ve facilitated many players via my SYFL to college (and the NFL), so it’s fitting I bring the ‘juice’ back to college football,” Snoop Dogg expressed in a statement. “Dr. Dre and I are eager to elevate our brand through this collaboration and enhance the Arizona Bowl into an unparalleled game-day experience.” Snoop Dogg visited Tucson in 2015 as the head coach for the 12U Diamond Valley Steelers from Pomona (California). His team faced off against the Sunnyside SW Rams in the West Coast Challenge, a fundraiser supporting the Community Food Bank that featured additional youth football teams.
— A Pep Rally downtown on December 27 at 5 p.m.
— Gin & Juice Tailgate Festival on game day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
— The yearly Taco Bell New Year’s Eve Downtown Bowl Bash on December 31 starting at 6 p.m. into the new year.
The expansion of the event aligns with what chairman Ali Farhang envisioned before the inaugural game in 2015 when Colorado State and Nevada faced off on a frigid night in front of 20,425 at Arizona Stadium.
I recall interviewing @theARIZONABOWL chairman @alibomaye32 at the event’s launch 10 years ago. His passion at that time was evident in his desire to grow this event not for personal gain or for the board or committee, but to benefit the community as a whole through the inclusion of… pic.twitter.com/LNbCNLGXtM
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 8, 2024
The Arizona Bowl is nearing the mark of equaling the duration of the Copper Bowl/Insight.com Bowl, which was held at Arizona Stadium from 1989 to 1999.
That game, now referred to as the Rate Bowl, moved from Tucson to Phoenix’s Chase Field in 2000.
“My greatest gratitude lies in the fact that when we began, it was only a few of us responsible for putting this game together,” Farhang stated. “Since then, we’ve expanded to hundreds of dedicated volunteers passionate about the event.
“They invest significant time and resources into this game. Their commitment to enhancing Tucson and showcasing our local area was one of our core motivations for establishing this event.”
ARIZONA BOWL
Yearly outcomes of the Arizona Bowl.
| Date | Winner | Loser | Score | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/29/2015 | Nevada | Colorado State | 28-23 | 20425 |
| 12/30/2016 | Air Force | South Alabama | 45-21 | 33868 |
| 12/29/2017 | New Mexico State | Tuah State | 26-20 (OT) | 39132 |
| 12/29/2018 | Nevada | Arkansas State | 16-13 (OT) | 32368 |
| 12/31/2019 | Wyoming | Georgia State | 38-17 | 36892 |
| 12/31/2020 | Ball State | San Jose State | 34-13 | 0 (COVID-19) |
| 12/31/2021 | Canceled | COVID-19 | Restrictions | |
| 12/30/2022 | Ohio | Wyoming | 30-27 (OT) | 27691 |
| 12/30/2023 | Wyoming | Toledo | 16-15 | 30428 |
The Arizona Bowl has attracted a total of 220,084 attendees (averaging 27,600) over the eight matches contested thus far. The 2021 game featuring Boise State and Central Michigan was canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak impacting Boise State’s team.
The highest attendance recorded was 39,132 during the 2017 game when New Mexico State, from nearby Las Cruces, New Mexico, played in its inaugural bowl game in 57 years.
This record holds the possibility of being surpassed with the buzz around this year’s event, particularly with Snoop Dogg’s involvement (his potential performance remains unconfirmed).
For Southern Arizona, the salient point is that the Arizona Bowl is flourishing.
It stands out as the sole bowl game nationally that donates all its net revenues to charitable organizations.
Tucson is fortunate to have visionaries like Farhang and Adair, along with many community contributors and countless volunteers, ensuring the game’s success now and into the future.
“Traditions are cultivated over time,” Farhang reflected. “Since 2015, we’ve established this custom a year at a time. No one really questions me about ‘What’s the Arizona Bowl?’ anymore.
“Now with the collaboration involving Snoop Dogg, the world-renowned pop-culture icon, I believe eyes will not only be on us in Tucson, but also across the nation, perhaps even globally.”
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We’re Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Bound
We’ll be in Tucson to face Miami, OH on December 28th!
See you in AZ, Rams! #Stalwart x #RamGrit pic.twitter.com/3bl4aV8IEu
— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball) December 8, 2024
Colorado State’s coach Jay Norvell returns to the Arizona Bowl following his previous success with Nevada, where he guided them to a 16-13 overtime win over Arkansas State in the 2018 matchup.
The Rams (8-4) are making their first postseason appearance since 2017. They achieved a 6-1 record in Mountain West competition.
“I’m thrilled to be heading back to the Arizona Bowl,” Norvell stated in a press release from Colorado State. “It’s a fantastic location with remarkable hospitality. It will be an enjoyable experience for our supporters and our team. This is a rewarding conclusion for our seniors, and we’re eager to cap our season with a bowl victory and create positive momentum for 2025.”
“Our ongoing goal has been to consistently qualify for bowl games each year, and this serves as an excellent launchpad for our program’s future.”
Colorado State mounted a comeback with 29 points in the fourth quarter to clinch a 42-37 victory in their regular-season finale against Utah State at Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Rams won six of their last seven games and recorded the highest win total for the program since 2014.
Bowling in AZ
The RedHawks are set to challenge Colorado State at the Arizona Bowl presented by Snoop Dogg on December 28 #RiseUpRedHawks | pic.twitter.com/p1n2o8nPM9
— Miami Football (@MiamiOHFootball) December 8, 2024
Miami of Ohio (8-5) is set to appear in a bowl game for the fifth consecutive year.
The RedHawks closed the regular season with seven straight victories, making it to the MAC Championship in Detroit, where they fell 38-3 to Ohio.
The two teams have faced off twice previously, with the RedHawks claiming victory in both encounters; the last meeting took place in 2010 in Oxford, Ohio.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former winner of the Arizona Press Club award. He served as the Arizona Daily Star beat reporter covering the Arizona basketball team during their 1996-97 NCAA title triumph. He has also contributed articles to CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among other outlets. He authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, available on Amazon. Since 2016, he has worked as an educator and is currently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
