LA Bowl Ceases Operations After Five Years
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The LA Bowl is shutting down after five years of play, the organization announced Thursday, .
Established in 2020 as a showcase for the multibillion-dollar arena complex built by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke, the bowl game faced challenges from the outset. Its inaugural event was delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the first game taking place in 2021.
Throughout its brief history, the LA Bowl cycled through several naming-rights sponsors. It debuted with comedian Jimmy Kimmel as its title sponsor, and the past three editions were “hosted” by former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The Mountain West champion participated in four of the five LA Bowl games, typically matched against West Coast schools with Pac-12 roots. However, the collapse of the Pac-12 as a power conference reportedly contributed to difficulties in securing teams for future matchups.
Washington secured the final victory in the LA Bowl, defeating Boise State 38-10 on December 13.
The decision to end operations comes as the bowl’s six-year contract with Hollywood Park, owned by Stan Kroenke, was set to expire. According to a statement from bowl officials on December 11, 2025, discussions regarding future plans would be deferred until after the final game. However, the organization has now confirmed it will not seek to renew the contract.
The LA Bowl’s closure is part of a broader trend in college football, with lower-tier postseason bowl games facing increased challenges. Factors contributing to this include conference realignment, the expansion of the College Football Playoff, changes to transfer portal dates, and teams declining bowl invitations.
During this year’s bowl selection process, several programs, including Notre Dame, Kansas State, and Iowa State, reportedly declined their invitations to participate in bowl games.
