Boca Raton Bowl Set for Prime Time in Sixth Year

Florida Atlantic University will face Southern Methodist University in the sixth annual Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl on Saturday, December 21 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton. The game will air live on ABC at 3:30 p.m. EST. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission (PBCSC) is once again partnering with the Boca Raton Bowl to hold several events during the week leading into the primetime showdown.

Palm Beach County is one of only 35 communities throughout the United States that hosts an NCAA FBS-sanctioned bowl game.

The 2019 rendition of the Boca Raton Bowl marks the first time in the event’s history that the game will be shown on a major cable network in primetime. ESPN Radio will host the radio broadcast including locally on ESPN 106.3.

The bowl’s primary tie-ins are from the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference. This year’s game will feature C-USA’s FAU (10-3) and AAC’s SMU (10-2.) The game marks the first meeting between the two sides.

Launched in 2014, the Boca Raton Bowl has transformed into one of college football’s finest events. Heading into the bowl’s sixth iteration, the game has the distinction of having had seven conference champions make appearances. The event represents the largest attended collegiate sports event occurring annually in Palm Beach County.

The bowl game represents one of the largest economic impacts amongst sporting events held in Palm Beach County. The game is expected to bring over 1.5 million dollars in revenue in 2019.

“The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is excited to have the Boca Raton Bowl back for the sixth year in The Palm Beaches and Boca Raton as our region caps a huge year for sports tourism,” George Linley, Executive Director of the PBCSC. “A signature event like a college bowl game just days before the official tourism season kicks off in The Palm Beaches is huge for everyone in Palm Beach County. With the game being on ABC this year, millions will see the top-notch sports destination that is The Palm Beaches.”

FAU Stadium -- the 30,000 seat stadium on Florida Atlantic University's Boca Raton campus -- plays host to the game. The stadium is built on natural turf, and includes 23 private boxes on two suite levels, a luxury Premier Club level, an open air Priority Club level with Cabana Bar, and a media/broadcast press box level. 

PBCSC will assist with bowl week activities which began on Tuesday, December 17 with the Head Coaches Conference at 5 p.m. at AV Rental Depot. Later that evening at 7 p.m., the FAU Welcome Party was held at Wyndham Grand Jupiter at Harbourside Place and the SMU Welcome Party was at Boca Raton Resort & Club.

The activities continued Wednesday, December 18 at 3 p.m. with the FAU Team Beach Party at Carlin Park in Jupiter and the SMU Team Watch Party at Lake Worth Pier/Benny’s on the Beach. On Thursday, December 19, both teams performed community outreach at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (FAU) and Boca Raton Regional Hospital (SMU.) Pep rallies for each team will take place on Friday, December 20 at 6 p.m. with FAU celebrating at Abacoa Amphitheater in Jupiter and SMU heading to Mizner Park in Boca Raton.