1st & 10 Club: The club hosts four dinner meetings with keynote speakers who address the club membership and local media. Keynotes included South Alabama Head Coach - Major Applewhite, Auburn University Head Coach - Hugh Freeze, Alabama’s Defensive Coordinator - Kane Wommack, and Sun Belt Conference CommissionerKeith Gill.
Big Day of Giving and Nominate a Teacher: The bowl office awarded a $1,000 classroom grant to an area public school teacher. The grant was awarded to Mrs. Mischa Armstrong from Baker High School.
Art Competition: This program gives $1800 annually to area schools’ art programs. It is open to all students grades 6-12 in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
68 Ventures funding of local organizations:
Continuing the title sponsor tradition of charitable giving through a partnership with the Bowl, title sponsor 68 Ventures, presented 4 area organizations with $10,000 each, for a total of $40,000 donated to the community. These groups included Ransom Solutions programs, Dream Center of Baldwin County, Pine Grove Elementary, and For the Children of Milton.
68 Ventures Bowl Scholarship Program: Area high school seniors submitted applications and essays to earn a scholarship for college.
Community Awards Banquet: A night of recognition for the recipients of the various community programs. Approximately 150 in attendance.
Mobile County Spelling Bee: The annual Spelling Bee is hosted and sponsored by the Bowl each year. Approximately 100 students participate.
Bowl for the Goal: The Bowl created a fundraising opportunity for local school organizations to sell tickets to the Bowl game with all proceeds going back to the school organization. Four area schools participated.
Oh Say, Can You Sing: The Bowl and iHeart Radio hosted a singing competition to select the national anthem performer at the 68 Ventures Bowl. Teams’ Welcomes and Press Conf: Teams were greeted as they entered the city of Mobile. Mobile’s Azalea Trail Maids, Bowl officials and sponsors were all present to welcome the teams to Mobile, Alabama. Immediately following the teams welcome was the official press conference.
GoBowling.com Event: Teams were invited to enjoy an afternoon of bowling upon their arrival into the port city.
2024 68 Ventures Bowl Events in Review
Greer’s/This is Alabama Mardi Gras Parade: The parade which included 6 musical acts and 20 parading societies rolled through the streets of downtown Mobile welcoming all to the area. Approximately 600 participants and an estimated crowd size of 40,000+.
Masker and VIP Viewing Party: The bowl hosted both a reception for all maskers/participants in the parade as well as a VIP Viewing reception for invited guest. Approximately 400 attendees.
Community Giveback: Both participating institutions sent players into the community to volunteer at area non-profits. These included: Prodisee Pantry, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Mulherin Home and Children’s and Women’s Hospital. The greater Mobile community was served through these outreach projects. Approximately 250 participants.
NFL Community Outreach Speaker: The Bowl hosted keynote speaker, Roman Oben, National Football League’s Vice President of Football Development who addressed each team at sperate events. Approximately 300 participants.
SBC Team Hospitality Party: A hospitality party for the Arkansas State University at the Riverview Plaza Hotel. Attended by the entire team and travel party (approximately 250 individuals) and invited guests and bowl sponsors.
MAC Team Hospitality Party: A hospitality party for Bowling Green State University at the Battle House Hotel. Attended by the entire team and travel party (approximately 250 individuals) and invited guests and bowl sponsors.
Top Golf Team Challenge: Both participating teams and travel parties enjoyed brunch and some friendly competition at Top Golf. Approximately 500.
Battleship Tour: Both participating university bands toured the Battleship USS Alabama, Aircraft Pavilion and the USS Drum Submarine. Approximately 400 guests.
Christmas Day Movie: Players and travel parties were invited to a Christmas Day Movie. A separate event was held for each team. Approximately 400 guest.
This is Alabama Street Party: A pre-game tailgate event which included the following events below had approximately 650 participants and a crowd size 2000-3000:
• 68 Ventures Bowl Player Parade: Players participated in a Mardi Gras Style Parade to enter the stadium. Open to the public.
• Battle of the Bands: Both bands competed in a Battle of the Bands on John Counts Drive outside the stadium gates.
• Team Pep Rallies: Both universities hosted their pep rallies outside their alumni tents.
• TailGreeter Tailgate: Fun, food and entertainment leading up to the game. Approximately 600 participants.
26th Annual
68 Ventures Bowl: The 68 Ventures Bowl game was nationally televised on ESPN, live streamed on ESPN Plus, radio broadcast on SiriusXM satellite Radio (channel 81) on the Audacy, TuneIn Radio, Varsity Network apps for Apple’s iOS and Google’s Andriod platforms, and on radio stations across the U.S. via distribution by the Bowl Season Radio Network and the Westwood One satellite platform. The game took place on December 26, 2024 at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Final Score: Bowling Green 31, Arkansas State 38
Game Attendance: 19,582
Harold Fannin Jr, Tight End - Game MVP:
• 17 Reception
• 213 Receiving Yards
• 1 Touchdown
• Broke the NCAA single season record for Receiving Yards by a Tight End
Overall Social Media (8/15-12/31):
• Facebook Reach- 69,700
• Instagram Reach- 55,800
• Facebook Likes- 3,900
• Instagram Likes- 3,400
• Shares/Retweets- 2,500
• Profile Clicks- 17,000
• Twitter Impressions- 121,100
• Viral Moment: An epic trick play/fake punt by Bowling Green’s Quarterback.
