Inception: 1986
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
Location: Tampa, Fla.
Previous Name: Hall of Fame Bowl
Previous Stadium: Tampa Stadium
Conference: SEC, Big Ten
When the Hall of Fame Classic moved to Tampa, Florida, in 1986, it became known as the Hall of Fame Bowl and was played at Tampa Stadium. It usually paired teams from the Southeastern Conference or the Atlantic Coast Conference with teams from other conferences since it had no tie-ins. Outback Steakhouse became the game’s official and only sponsor in 1995 and moved the game to the newly built
Raymond James Stadium
in 1999. Since then, it has been known as the Outback Bowl, and its conference tie-ins are now with the SEC and Big Ten. The Outback Bowl is always played on New Year’s Day unless it happens to fall on a Sunday. In that case, it is played the next Monday. The
Iowa Hawkeyes
and the
Michigan Wolverines
share the honor of most appearances in the Outback Bowl with six each. A few game MVPs include Jamie Morris (TB) of Michigan, Bobby Engram (WR) of
Penn State
, Dallas Baker (WR) of
Florida
and Jalen Hurd (RB) of
Tennessee
. Grab your Outback Bowl tickets at StubHub.
Known locally as the “Ray Jay,” the stadium has a seating capacity of 65,618 that can be expanded to 75,000 for special events. These seats expand over three levels and exclusive box seating, as well as wheelchair and companion seating. The stadium is home to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, which is obvious by the giant pirate ship located in the north end zone.
You can find affordable tickets if you shop early. Once the competing teams are announced, prices increase. It is also wise to purchase your
Outback Bowl Parking Passes
ahead of time to make sure you’ve got an easily accessible spot.
You can find the largest selection of seats at the most affordable prices at StubHub. With innovative technology and their FanProtect guarantee, you can be assured of a quick, secure and convenient transaction when purchasing your Outback Bowl tickets.
Since the teams and their fans are, more often than not, coming from areas in the midst of winter weather, you will find tons of people enjoying the balmy Tampa weather clad in their teams’ colors. Since the Outback Bowl takes place on New Year’s Day, there is an added level of excitement in the stadium. The Outback Bowl Coca-Cola Halftime Show features over 2,000 high school performers from around the country participating in marching bands, dancing competitions and mesmerizing routines. There are tons of events leading up to game day that further enhance the Outback Bowl experience.
Tailgating and grilling is allowed in the parking lots of the stadium. You can also find exclusive VIP pregame parties for club members and a Pregame Bowl Bash for everyone. At the Pregame Bowl Bash, you will find live music, pep rallies, food and drink concessions and varying displays by local companies. On December 30, Clearwater Beach Day takes place on the white sandy beaches of the crystal clear gulf. Here, you will find the teams with their bands, cheerleaders and tons of fans enjoying the beach with live music, skydivers and contests. On December 31, you can catch the Outback Bowl New Year’s Eve parade through the historic Ybor City. It features floats, marching bands and cheerleaders from the competing universities.