What is the Cricket Celebration Bowl?
The Cricket Celebration Bowl is a postseason bowl game pitting the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion. The inaugural game took place Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, and was televised on ABC. The North Carolina A&T Aggies defeated the Alcorn State Braves 41-34. In 2016, the Grambling State Tigers defeated the North Carolina Central Eagles 10-9. The game was seen by a bowl record 2.7 million viewers on ABC as well as military members from over 140 countries on the Armed Forces Network. In 2017 the venue shifted to the brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where North Carolina A&T won their second title by defeating Grambling State 21-14.
How long has the Cricket Celebration Bowl been in existence?
The Cricket Celebration Bowl launched in 2015.
Who played in the last Cricket Celebration Bowl?
The 2018 matchup saw FCS #13 and MEAC Champion North Carolina A&T defeat SWAC Champion Alcorn State 24-22. This was the third Celebration Bowl appearance for NC A&T, following their victory over the Grambling Tigers in the 2017 Celebration Bowl, 21–14.
What are the official host hotels?
The Cricket Celebration Bowl has partnered with the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau to provide discounted hotel accommodations near Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Detailed information is available on the Official Event Hotels page
Why is Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium a great venue for the Cricket Celebration Bowl?
The City of Atlanta is a wonderful travel destination. It is geographically located within the footprint of both conferences, allowing for a wide pool of HBCU fans to attend the Cricket Celebration Bowl. The brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and will offer a fan experience unlike any other venue in the word. Learn more about the stadium here.
Will fans be able to purchase ticket to the ancillary events around the game?
Not all events around the game are open to the public. A full schedule of events can be found here. Sign up here to receive updates on all Cricket Celebration Bowl announcements and events.
What is ESPN Events?
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of 31 collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; FCS opening-weekend game; 14 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 375-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 800,000 attendees each year. For more information, visit the official ESPN Events website.
