Photo: Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty; Jimmy Kimmel Live/Twitter
There will be a new college bowl game this year, and a very familiar face is responsible.
This week comedianJimmy Kimmelannounced that he is sponsoring his own college football postseason bowl game, set to take place on Dec. 18 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
“That’s right,” the 53-year-old said on ABC’sJimmy Kimmel Liveon Wednesday night. “That’s the name of the bowl game. This is history in the making. Never before has a bowl game been named after a human being, and Papa John’s doesn’t count. He’s barely human.”
The game will see the No. 1 team from the Mountain West Conference take on the No. 5 selection from the Pac-12, according toUSA Today.
SoFi Stadium, which is the home stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL, struck a multi-year deal with Kimmel to put his name on the event,ESPNreported.
“This is not a joke,” Kimmel said on his show. “This is a real bowl game named after me, so mark your calendars. … It’s like an early Christmas gift for all of us.”
The game will be a part of billionaire Stan Kroenke’s vision of making SoFi Stadium — located in Inglewood, California — one of the main attractions in the Los Angeles area. Kroenke, who is married to Walmart heir Ann Walton Kroenke, owns SoFi Stadium, along with the Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids and Britain’s Arsenal soccer club.
“Stan Kroenke designed Hollywood Park to be a sports and entertainment destination for Angelenos and visitors from across the world to enjoy,” Jason Gannon, executive director of Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl, toldDeadline.
RELATED VIDEO: Jimmy Kimmel Honors Regis Philbin in Touching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Tribute
“Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl will not only bring an incredible game-day experience to fans,” he added, “but it will also focus on supporting our community 365 days a year.”
SoFi Stadium will also host the 2022 Super Bowl and WWE’s WrestleMania in 2023.
source: people.com
