Love HBCUs and the holiday season? Why not combine the two by celebrating the Celebration Bowl this year in Atlanta, GA. The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl opens the bowl game season and is a championship-style game between the division champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and is the perfect way to blend HBCU Football, Holiday Fun and Family Time. This game is a great way to enjoy the holiday season with your family and a perfect weekend getaway to the Peach State. On top of everything, you can support Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Since 2015, all 4 participating schools have gotten an average of 40% more applications the year after they played in the Celebration Bowl. North Carolina A&T saw a 72.5% increase in applications from 2015-2016. This year, North Carolina A&T announced that they have a new fundraising goal of $85 million by 2020 – shattering all previous fundraising records.
If you are a veteran (I am the daughter of Veteran and proud), the Celebration Bowl is the place to be. The Air Force Reserve has renewed its title sponsorship of the game for this year and for the next few years. Operated by ESPN Events, the fourth annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl will once again be televised on ABC at noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This matchup is the second of its kind between North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University and Alcorn State University as the two met in 2015 at the inaugural Celebration Bowl.
“We are thrilled to have the Air Force Reserve join us again as the title sponsor of the Celebration Bowl,” said John Grant, Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl executive director. “The theme of this year’s Celebration Bowl is all about the celebration of service. Partnering with the Air Force Reserve allows us to truly honor and commemorate those who volunteer and serve to protect both for the community and the country.” The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl features tradition, legacy and values of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and has established itself as the very first bowl game of the season. Entering its fourth year, the game will once again open the college football bowl season “We are excited to be the title sponsor of the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl,” said CMSgt Michael Johnson, AFRCRS. “This year’s bowl game celebrating service lines up perfectly with what the Air Force Reserve does every day serving our nation at home and abroad as part of this nation’s national defense. We are looking forward to telling the great story of the Air Force Reserve, its mission and the benefits of serving to a national audience.”
You and your family can purchase tickets to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl online at thecelebrationbowl.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. Prices range from $15 to $155 excluding taxes and fees. A full list of events surrounding the game are available on the event’s website.
The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. For more information, visit www.TheCelebrationBowl.com, and follow the event on Twitter and Facebook.
Want inspiration for experience all of the Celebration Bowl: HBCU Football, Holiday Fun and Family Time? Check out some of the fun my husband and baby had as well as the decor I was inspired to create ahead of the game. Hope you can make it and be sure to share your images on social media using the hashtag #blacksouthernbelle
Celebration Bowl: HBCU Football, Holiday Fun and Family Time
Above all else, the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl is about celebrating family. It is a perfect father and son getaway as well as a week of activities for the whole family. And this event is also another excuse to wear plaid, and who doesn’t love wearing plaid during the holidays.
***This post was sponsored by ESPN and the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. All opinions are my own***