At a press conference held yesterday, Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) and other D.C. officials announced the city’s newest sporting event: the EagleBank Bowl. The game is one of two new post-season college bowl games approved by the NCAA for 2008.
The game will feature The United States Naval Academy (provided they win six or more games in the regular season) and an eligible ACC team.
The game will be both the first bowl of the 2008 season and the first major NCAA-sanctioned bowl game in history to be played in the District.
The effort to bring the Bowl game to the District of Columbia began in December of 2006 with the vision of Sean Metcalf, an aide to D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2). The final approval by the NCAA was given at the end of April. The sponsorship of EagleBank, announced yesterday, represents what Councilmember Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) calls, “another step in moving the District towards another top position in the nation, and that is being a sports Mecca.”
The announcement further solidifies an effort on the part of government officials to draw sports and other entertainment activities back to D.C.
“Bringing a major attraction to the District of Columbia … like a new athletic event really demonstrates the amazing progress that the District has made,” Fenty said.
After a week of promotional events beginning on December 16, the game will be held Wednesday, December 20 at 11:00 a.m. at RFK Stadium. Tickets are available through TicketMaster and range in price from $45 to $135.
