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Detroit Bowl Game Era Ends After 29 Years
11 Feb
Summary
- Detroit's 29-year bowl game tradition concluded with the 2026 season.
- Ford Field will not host a postseason college football game next year.
- The end of a naming rights partnership led to the game's discontinuation.
Detroit's long-standing tradition of hosting a college football bowl game has officially concluded, with Ford Field not scheduling a postseason event for the 2026 season. This decision brings a halt to the city's 29-year run as a bowl game host.
The future of postseason football in Detroit became uncertain following the end of a naming rights partnership for the bowl game. Ford Field's management cited this as the right moment to re-evaluate their focus on other sports and entertainment events.
The city first welcomed a bowl game in 1997 at the Pontiac Silverdome, moving to Ford Field in 2002. Over the years, the game adopted various names, including the Motor City Bowl, Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl, and most recently, the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
Typically featuring teams from the Mid-American and Big Ten conferences, the Detroit bowl game also saw participation from ACC teams on several occasions. This development follows closely after the LA Bowl announced its own closure after five years.
