WASHINGTON, D.C. –The DC Bowl Committee and Events DC today announced that the 2013 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman benefiting the USO will be played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., on Friday, December 27 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
This year’s game will match a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference against an opponent from Conference USA. It will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
“This move puts our game into a facility that honors the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces,” DC Bowl Committee President & Executive Director Steve Beck said. “Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is truly a venue that is in line with our mission of supporting our nation’s military and raising awareness for organizations supporting the Armed Forces. We expect a great matchup.”
It will be the first bowl game ever played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1959.
“The Naval Academy Athletic Association is very pleased to host the Military Bowl,” U.S. Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk said. “Those who attend will find Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to be historic, fan friendly, and designed to promote a wonderful family environment. This partnership is appreciated and we will extend ourselves on every front to ensure this is a great experience for our guests and the visiting teams. We look forward to this special event in December.”
Since its inception in 2008, the Washington-area’s college football bowl game (called the EagleBank Bowl in its first two years) had been played at RFK Stadium. For the first time in its history, in 2012 the Military Bowl hosted a ranked team as San Jose State beat Bowling Green, 29-20, en route to finishing the season ranked No. 21 nationally. A bowl-record crowd of 38,794 saw Maryland beat East Carolina, 51-20, in 2010.
“This journey began in 2008 with the goals of bringing big-time football back to RFK Stadium and the nation’s capital while honoring and supporting our nation’s military, and we’ve accomplished those goals,” said Erik A. Moses, managing director of Events DC’s Sports and Entertainment Division. “We’ve had exciting games featuring teams from around the country, given thousands of military families the chance to enjoy the bowl game experience together during the holiday season, brought football fans from across the country to their nation’s capital and benefited the local economy and charitable causes. Our support of the bowl effort remains strong, and we are confident that the excitement surrounding the bowl game experience will continue to flourish in the Washington region.”
For each of the past three years the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman has donated $100,000 to the USO and distributed 5,000 complimentary tickets to military personnel and their families.
While this year’s gameday operations will move to Annapolis, all other bowl events will remain headquartered in Washington, D.C., including the annual NCAA Football Youth Clinic. This year’s clinic, hosted in partnership with Events DC and Positive Choices at Anacostia High School on June 15, is free and open to children ages 7 to 14. Registration is available at www.ncaafootballclinics.com.
From 2009 to 2011, the bowl generated nearly $36 million in economic impact. Bowl organizers hope to continue using the event to bring revenue into Washington, D.C., during the holiday season.
About the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman
The Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman has been held in the National Capital Region since 2008. The 2013 Military Bowl marks the sixth year that the Washington, D.C., area will host a post-season NCAA football game. Organized by the DC Bowl Committee & Events DC, the Military Bowl serves as a premier regional event benefiting the USO and other organizations supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families. For more information, please visit www.militarybowl.org.
About Events DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, and the non-military functions of the DC Armory. Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.
About the USO
The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.
