FIESTA BOWL ORGANIZATION NEWSLETTER
ERIK A. MOSES
Randal Norton
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ CEO
BOARD CHAIR
OPENING KICKOFF Happy New Year! We are excited about what awaits us in 2023 and look forward to taking the Fiesta Bowl Organization to new heights, both on and off the field. At the same time, we celebrate a momentous and historical Bowl Season. Hosting a pair of first-time matchups, we experienced increased viewership numbers over the prior year for both Bowl games. This year’s ‘instant classic’ Vrbo Fiesta Bowl marked the most-watched Fiesta Bowl since 2003 - a double overtime thriller when Ohio State beat Miami to win the national championship. The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl audience peaked at nearly 27 million viewers who enjoyed the dramatic conclusion as TCU held on to a 51-45 lead and earned a trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Bowl Season’s only Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup, the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, posted a 6% increase in viewership as Luke Fickell ushered in a new chapter for Badgers football as Wisconsin’s head coach. College football is thriving and the Fiesta Bowl’s future in the sport is as bright as ever. Our world-class hospitality for our teams, fans, families, officials, alumni and partners was on full display, thanks to our dedicated legion of volunteers and talented staff. Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh reiterated that sentiment, saying “I want to say how excited we are to be here; how great the treatment has been from the Fiesta Bowl and Vrbo. It’s just been first-class all the way, and we appreciate all the effort.” Now we can exhale, reflect and focus on making our next season even better as we plan and execute a full slate of events in the coming 12 months. Thank you for helping us to further prove that we are “More Than Just a Game” – as we truly make an impact with our stakeholders and in our community.
VOLUME 32