As the Fiesta Bowl marks its 50th anniversary this year, there is more to celebrate than the action on the field. Off the field, the college bowl generates about $175 million a year in direct and indirect economic benefits to the Valley and state, according to economic impact studies.

Over the past 13 years alone, Fiesta Bowl events have generated almost $3 billion into the local economy. Prior to the pandemic, the 2019 Fiesta Bowl attracted more than 71,000 visitors into the Valley, filling more than 7,500 hotel room nights, bowl officials said. 

Charitable giving is at the heart of the non-profit organization. Fiesta Bowl gives more in annual charitable giving than any college bowl organization.

“It’s written right in the Fiesta Bowl Organization mission, to create a positive economic impact for Arizona and focus on the community while having fun,” said Patrick Barkley, Fiesta Bowl chair of the board of directors. “Since our charter in 1971, the Fiesta Bowl has worked diligently to heighten our community through increased tourism, bringing positive publicity to Arizona and charitable giving. We look forward to doing so for another 50 years!” 

Every ticket sold benefits charity

Every ticket sold helps support . 

During the 2020-21 pandemic season, the organization raised a record $5.5 million for more than 44 charities and organizations including St. Mary’s Food Bank, the Arizona Science Center, the Arizona Burn Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club, Ryan House, Southwest Human Development, and others. The year’s donations made it possible to help more than 1 million people, provide 3.7 million meals and distribute 50,000 PPE face masks. 

Donations are raised through Fiesta Bowl’s two annual bowl games, the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl and the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, as well as community events throughout the year such as the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade.

Making it all happen? More than 3,000 volunteers, the of community leaders, and a staff of about two dozen.

Fiesta Bowl by the numbers 

Here’s a snapshot of some of the impacts:

• $2.9 billion Amount that the Fiesta Bowl and its surrounding events have generated for the Arizona economy over the past 13 years
• 27.3 million ESPN viewers tuned in for the Auburn-Oregon matchup in the 2011 Bowl Championship Series, making it the most-watched program in cable TV history
• $21 million Amount of charitable funds the Fiesta Bowl has contributed to non-profit organizations in the past decade
• $3.7 million in grants to teachers from the Fiesta Bowl Charities program over the past five years
• 600,000+ youth served through charitable efforts
• 300+ local charitable organizations that have benefited from Fiesta Bowl Charities

Tickets now on sale for Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl  

While the pandemic forced the game to be played “behind closed doors” on New Year’s Day this year, organizers are bringing fans back to the stands this year for its two bowl games and pregame fun. 

Fiesta Bowl and Fan Fest Pregame Party on New Year’s Day 

Tickets are now on sale for the Jan. 1, 2022 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Single tickets range between $165 to $360. The game will be televised on ESPN. 

Before entering the stadium, fans can explore various on-site pregame options such as the Fan Fest Pregame Party, which is free with a game ticket. Fans can also upgrade to the next level the Stadium Club Pregame Party – with big-screen televisions, live entertainment and an all-you-can-eat buffet. Premium seating options are available for luxury suites, lofts, or field boxes. 

Game tickets, premium experiences, pregame parties and reserved parking may be purchased throughor by calling (480) 350-0911.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl returns to downtown Phoenix Dec. 28

Tickets are also now on sale for the , which returns to downtown Phoenix on Dec. 28, featuring Bowl Season’s only matchup between members of the Big 12 and Big Ten Conferences. Entry prices start at $35. ESPN will televise the event. 

Game tickets, premium experiences and reserved parking may be purchased through or by calling (480) 350-0911.

“Bowl Season is the best season of the year. We’ve been waiting with excitement to kick off the Guaranteed Rate Bowl with the Big 12 and Big Ten Conferences matching up in a Major League Baseball ballpark, live on ESPN,” said Mike Nealy, executive director of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, who expects a high turnout this year as fans let loose after a year of COVID-19 restrictions. 

Nine community leaders founded Fiesta Bowl in 1971 

Fifty years ago, nine got together and made Arizona’s first college football bowl game a reality. They were: Don DuPont, Karl Eller, Glenn Hawkins, George Isbell, Jim Meyer, Don Meyers, Bob Shover, Jack Stewart, and George Taylor. 

The first game pitted Arizona State University (ASU) against Florida State. Head coaches were Frank Kush for ASU and Larry Jones for Florida. In a classic offensive battle, the game was not decided until the final minute when ASU’s Woody Green scored on a two-yard burst with just 34 ticks on the clock.

ASU won 45-38. The combined 83 points was the highest ever for a major bowl game. The crowd was one of the largest at the time with 51,098 fans at in Tempe where the game was held until it moved to in 2007. 

“The Fiesta Bowl was created by nine visionaries and community trailblazers, and since that time we’ve built a community crown jewel that is also a nationally-recognized leader in college football,” said Patrick Barkley, chair of the Fiesta Bowl board of directors.  “We’re proud to highlight our history over the year and start the next 50 years of memories.”

Highlights, history over 50 years 

To commemorate the game’s 50^th anniversary this year, the Fiesta Bowl created a new website with highlights from over the years, the history of the “Yellow Jackets,” podcasts and more at: .

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The most charitable college football bowl in the nation, Arizona’s own Fiesta Bowl, is donating $1 million in emergency relief to nonprofits across the state with a focus on feeding children and providing youth programming where it’s needed most during the coronavirus. 

Fiesta Bowl Charities also has officially opened its annual 2020-21 to award funding and support to organizations dedicated to three pillars: youth, sports and education. In September, it will open applications for its Wishes for Teachers program. 

In all, the charity will donate $4 million this fiscal year, it’s highest amount since it was founded almost a half century ago. 

One million to fill gaps for food and youth programs  

The charity is providing $1 million to 18 nonprofits to help fill the gaps for food services and youth programming that are their biggest shortfalls right now, said Patrick Barkley, chair of the Fiesta Bowl of Directors. 

“When we started thinking about how we could best help, we picked up the phones and asked charities what their most urgent needs are,” Barkley said. “Overwhelmingly, they said the biggest impact would be made in providing the increasing numbers they are now serving with enough food to eat and helping them manage the larger amounts of emergency programming for children and single-parent families.”

With schools closed down, organizations need food to feed families and more youth programming as parents perform essential jobs. Organizations in the Phoenix metro region, Tucson, Nogales, southern Arizona, Casa Grande, Prescott, Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation are recipients.

Here are some of the organizations found to be most in need that are receiving funds:

Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels in Phoenix: Amanda Hope’s financial assistance requests from families have doubled as schools have shut down and parents have been laid off. Now, it will be able to provide families with groceries for the next four months.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley in metro Phoenix: Operating expenses more than tripled overnight between staffing costs and extended hours. Now serving as many as 1,115 kids per day with extended hours at 12 sites across the Valley, the goal is to extend to additional sites as needed. Clubs are now operating with expanded hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., instead of its usual after-school schedule. Normally, it operates at a 1-to-20 ratio of staff-to-child, but current rules require a 1-to-9 ratio. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Casa Grande: One branch is operating specifically for health care professionals and essential workers, serving 60 kids. The donation will allow the branch to provide the necessary programming for nearly three months.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Flagstaff: Of the five locations, one will be open to severely impacted families and essential workers. Funding will be used for new needs across the branches including paying for added staff and cleaners for six weeks.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson: The club is opening up more academic programming at some sites for children who do not have access to online tools. The funds will serve over-and-above costs for up to two months.

Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona: Numbers served have more than doubled, despite reduction in staffing and volunteer hours, and the donation will go directly to feed families in April and May. The Tucson warehouse food cooling system’s compressor went out, so the warehouse is getting new equipment.  

Maggie’s Place in Phoenix: With no donations coming in for diapers and wipes, the stock was almost entirely exhausted. Food donations were also down. The donation will help to pay for  emergency food boxes, food for the homes and shelters, diapers, and wipes over the next several months.

St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix and the Navajo Nation: Donations will provide nearly 15,000 backpacks for food to last every weekend for a month for children in Maricopa County and Navajo Nation in Apache County, one of the most food insecure counties in the U.S. 

Fiesta Bowl 2020-21 grant applications being accepted now

Fiesta Bowl Charities also has opened up its 2020-21 grant season for non-profits that support youth, sports and education. 

Arizona nonprofits can submit applications through May 26. Recipients will be honored at the Arizona Bank & Trust Fiesta Bowl Kickoff Luncheon August 25.

There are three levels of grants: Spirit of the Fiesta Bowl Grant at $100,000, Touchdown Grant at $50,000 and the Field Goal Grant at $25,000. 

For more information, go to: . 

Wishes for Teachers grants to open in September

In addition, the Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers will once again give $5,000 grants each to 200 teachers during its annual Draft Day. Applications for the 2020-21 program. Applications are set to open in mid-September.

Most charitable college football bowl  

For almost 50 years, the Fiesta Bowl has been focused on charitable giving in between hosting several events each year including the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, the Cheez-It Bowl and the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade.

“Charitable giving is at the Fiesta Bowl Organization’s core and it’s inspiring to see how the nonprofits utilize the grant funds they receive,” Barkley said. “From creating a mobile science center to developing anti-bullying programs, we take great pride in our giving and serving our state through youth, sports and education.”For more information about the Fiesta Bowl, go to: .

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