The Las Vegas Bowl was set to feature an SEC team for the first time this year. Unfortunately, the 2020 game has officially been canceled, ESPN Events announced Wednesday.
“Unfortunately we will have to wait another year to present the Las Vegas Bowl in its new home,” John Saccenti, Las Vegas Bowl executive director, said in the announcement. “This was a difficult decision but the right one considering that our game was founded nearly three decades ago to help drive tourism to the Entertainment Capital of the World during the month of December. We are looking forward to making our bowl week bigger and better than ever in 2021.”
December’s game was slated to be the first bowl game played in Allegiant Stadium, the new stadium near the Las Vegas Strip and home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. The 2020 game was slated to feature a new matchup between the Pac-12 Conference and Southeastern Conference, as part of a rotating cycle that also includes the Big Ten Conference.
Both conference commissioners released statements on the cancelation:
“We are disappointed the Las Vegas Bowl has been cancelled for the 2020 football season and will miss the opportunity for SEC student-athletes to experience an exciting new venue,” said Greg Sankey, SEC Commissioner. “We have no doubt the Las Vegas Bowl will be a great part of the future SEC bowl lineup and look forward to our partnership in the years ahead.”
“The Pac-12 is disappointed for our teams and fans that the Las Vegas Bowl has been forced to cancel this year’s game,” said Larry Scott, Pac-12 Commissioner. “We look forward to next year’s game, which promises to be a fantastic national stage in one of the world’s best football stadiums, to showcase Pac-12 football.”
The decision comes as Nevada state officials ordered a statewide pause that includes reduced public and private gathering size.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
