Like every other state in the south, Louisiana is football mad, especially for college-level pigskin. The state is home to several universities with large, passionate fan bases, making the state an ideal host for a few of college football’s best bowl games. Let’s dive into how the impact of the games can be huge for our local communities.
History of Bowl Games in Louisiana
College football’s oldest bowl game is the Rose Bowl, which has been held annually for over 100 years. Not far behind is the Sugar Bowl, hosted in Louisiana every year since 1935, making it the second-oldest bowl game in America alongside the Orange Bowl.
Bowl Games Annually Held in Louisiana
College football fans have a few options to choose from in Louisiana nowadays. The following bowl games will be played in the state in 2024.
Independence Bowl
Saturday, December 16
Shreveport, Louisiana
Texas Tech vs. Cal
New Orleans Bowl
Saturday, December 16
New Orleans, Louisiana
Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana University
Sugar Bowl
Monday, January 1, 2024
New Orleans, Louisiana
No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas
Economic Impact of the Independence Bowl
For a community like Shreveport, a college bowl game has proven to be a huge financial success, both for the city and its surrounding communities. Back in 2022, the game generated over $17 million dollars, including over $6 million dollars in direct and indirect spending. Officials expect the number to go up in 2024. Shreveport is a city that doesn’t instantly come to mind as a place for tourism, so a college bowl game acts as a great showcase for the city to newcomers. The game hosts teams from out of the state, leading those visitors to discover the city’s hotels, southern culture, and restaurants.
Economic Impact of the New Orleans Bowl
Of course, New Orleans is Louisiana’s most visited city, with many live events, restaurants, historical sites, and museums to attract visitors. That doesn’t mean the New Orleans Bowl doesn’t play a role. The bowl reportedly generates an estimated $25 million dollars for the city.
Economic Impact of the Sugar Bowl
It should come as no surprise that the Sugar Bowl has the largest economic impact of any bowl game in Louisiana. The game’s prestige places it among the four college bowl games that are used as semi-final games for college football’s championship, meaning the game naturally attracts the best teams in all of college football. This gives the game the ability to generate over $200 million dollars each year. The Super Bowl committee also used the opportunity to raise millions of dollars for local causes, both for local teachers and as scholarships for students.
Football fans hitting the road to attend a bowl game this winter should only have to worry about rooting for their team, not their insurance coverage. Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance has the high-quality home and auto insurance you need. Use our Agent Find to contact a local agent for a quote today.