TUCSON, Ariz., July 24, 2019 – As it enters the fifth year of its inaugural bowl cycle, the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl today announced that it has reached a deal with the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Mountain West Conference (MW) to provide a fresh slate of teams that may be eligible to play at the December 31 match-up at Arizona Stadium starting in 2020. The MW will return as one of the bowl's current conference partners, and the MAC steps in to fill the second spot in conference alignments.
"Earlier this year we rolled out our theme of 'New Traditions' as our bowl continues to grow, and we're thrilled that one of our new, years-long traditions is a partnership with the MAC and the Mountain West," said Kym Adair, executive director of the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. "And the irony that 2020 will be the first year of this partnership was not lost on us given the shared 20/20 vision that we all have for taking this bowl to new heights." The NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl will take a large leap in selection priority among the conference's bowl-eligible programs. The ability to jump to upper echelon picks in the aligned conferences will allow for top quality football teams to make their way to the desert in December. "Our picks will be among the top picks available from the conferences," said Adair. The 12 schools that comprise the MAC are located in New York, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. The 12 schools that comprise the MW are located in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, California, Hawaii, and Nevada. Both conferences represent academic institutions with large networks of fans and alumni whose loyalty to their schools and athletics traditions is virtually unsurpassed, which could translate to turnouts that well exceed national averages.
"We could not be more excited to have the MAC and Mountain West aligned with the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl for the next six-year bowl cycle. Melding their rich football tradition with our Bowl will give us an opportunity to share the warmth of our Southern Arizona hospitality with their many devoted fans," said Adair. "The Mountain West is proud to be a founding partner of the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl," said Craig Thompson, commissioner of the MW. "The hospitality of the people in Tucson and Southern Arizona, the climate, and the welcoming environment that our institutions and fans have enjoyed over the past four years continues to impress," he continued. "As the new bowl cycle approached, there was no question we were excited to continue our significant partnership with the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl."
Sharing Thompson's enthusiasm was Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher, commissioner of the MAC, who said "I am pleased with the addition of the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl to our bowl lineup beginning with the 2020 football season," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher. "This game was a priority as we looked to add a bowl game to our line-up. The opportunity to play in a destination such as Tucson and to compete against the Mountain West Conference made this very attractive. In just a few short years through the efforts of a talented bowl staff and engaged Board, the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl has quickly developed a reputation for providing a quality experience for the participating teams and fans."
The announcement of its conference partnerships also included a special acknowledgement of the Sun Belt Conference which will conclude its five-year affiliation with the bowl after the 2019 game. "Very early on in our second year, we had the distinct privilege to welcome the Sun Belt to our Bowl. The Sun Belt Conference and their affiliated schools represent some of the finest talent in college sports today," said Ali Farhang, chairman of the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. "It's been an honor for us to host them in Tucson each year, and they will always hold a special and proud place in the tradition of this bowl."
Â
