HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (CNS) — The bowl game to make its debut Dec. 18 at SoFi Stadium will be known as the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, the ABC talk show host announced Wednesday evening during his monologue.
"Ever since I was 52 — which was last year — I've dreamed of having a college football bowl game named after me," Kimmel said after citing such "memorable, colorful" bowl game names as the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl, the LendingTree Bowl and the Cheez-It Bowl.
"I'm thrilled to announce that dream is coming true."
The naming of the game is the result of what was described as "an unprecedented multi-year partnership" between Kimmel and SoFi Stadium. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.
"Stan Kroenke designed Hollywood Park to be a sports and entertainment destination for Angelenos and visitors from across the world to enjoy. We cannot think of a better way to bring sports and entertainment together than by collaborating with celebrated late-night host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel on our collegiate bowl game, said Jason Gannon, executive director, Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, referring to the Los Angeles Rams owner who led efforts to have the stadium built at the former site of the Hollywood Park race track.
"Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl will not only bring an incredible game day experience to fans, but it will also focus on supporting our community 365 days a year."
The game continues to seek a presenting sponsor.
Kimmel will work with Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl community partners One For All, Boys and Girls Club LA Harbor and Boys and Girls Club LA Metro and additional Los Angeles charities, some of which he has long supported.
The bowl game's logo was unveiled during the monologue in a broadcast from SoFi Stadium which included a performance by the game's drumline and an attempt by Kimmel's sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, to kick a 20-yard field goal, which missed.
Kimmel claimed "that never before has a bowl game been named after a human being." However, that distinction belongs to John Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.
What had been the John Hancock Sun Bowl from 1986-88 was known as the John Hancock Bowl from 1989-93 after its title sponsor, John Hancock Financial, negotiated renewal of its sponsorship agreement to include a new name that would get more national media mentions to justify the expense.
The game will match the No. 1 selection from the Mountain West Conference and No. 5 selection from the Pac-12 Conference. It will be televised by ABC in prime time on a Saturday night.
What was to be known as the LA Bowl was to have made its debut Dec. 30, but was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.