Peach Bowl, Inc. – Mercedes-Benz Stadium Ink New Eight Year Deal
Staff Report From Metro Atlanta CEO
Thursday, September 20th, 2018
Peach Bowl, Inc. and Mercedes-Benz Stadium announced the signing of a new eight-year contract ensuring all Chick-fil-A Peach Bowls and Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games will be played in the facility through 2025.
The length of the agreement will include eight Chick-fil-A Peach Bowls and at least 10 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games. Since its opening in August 2017, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has already hosted three sold out Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games and one sold out Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl totaling 292,649 fans.
“Over our first four games, this partnership has been the definition of a win-win, and we are thrilled we will continue to call Mercedes-Benz Stadium home for the next eight years,” said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and president. “Arthur Blank and his team have delivered on their end by providing us a world-class venue with every imaginable luxury, and I think we have done our part, providing four straight sellouts and a long list of nationally ranked teams.”
“We are pleased to announce our continued partnership with the Peach Bowl,” said Rich McKay, president, AMB Sports & Entertainment. “We are thrilled that Mercedes-Benz Stadium will continue to be the backdrop of some of the biggest college match ups in the country.”
“Gary and his team at Peach Bowl, Inc. have done an excellent job orchestrating great matchups, bringing some of the best college teams from around the Nation to Atlanta and Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” said Tim Zulawski, chief revenue officer, AMB Sports & Entertainment. “We look forward to working with Gary and his team over the next 8 years.”
Over the next eight years, Peach Bowl, Inc. will host three College Football Playoff Semifinals (#1 vs. #4 or #2 vs. #3), five New Year’s Six bowl games featuring top-ranked teams and at least 10 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games, including three in 2020 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The current schedule of games will feature five Saturday games, one New Year’s Day game, and three games that lead in to Semifinal games:
Year: | Matchup | Game | Date |
2018 | TBD | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Saturday, Dec. 29 |
2019 | Alabama vs. Duke | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Saturday, Aug. 31 |
2019 | 1 vs 4 or 2 vs 3 | CFP Semifinal (Peach Bowl) | Saturday, Dec. 28 |
2020 | West Virginia vs. Florida State | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Saturday, Sept. 5 |
2020 | Georgia vs. Virginia | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Monday, Sept. 7 |
2020 | North Carolina vs. Auburn | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Saturday, Sept. 12 |
2020 | TBD | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Friday, Jan. 1 |
2021 | Alabama vs. Miami | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Saturday, Sept. 4 |
2021 | Louisville vs. Ole Miss | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | TBD |
2021 | TBD | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Thursday, Dec. 30 |
2022 | Oregon vs. Georgia | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Saturday, Sept. 3 |
2022 | 1 vs 4 or 2 vs 3 | CFP Semifinal (Peach Bowl) | Saturday, Dec. 31 |
2023 | TBD | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Saturday, Sept. 2 |
2023 | TBD | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Friday, Dec.29 |
2024 | Georgia vs. Clemson | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Saturday, Aug. 31 |
2025 | TBD | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Saturday, Aug. 30 |
2025 | 1 vs 4 or 2 vs 3 | CFP Semifinal (Peach Bowl) | Saturday, Dec. 27 |
The 10 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games currently scheduled feature seven teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25, the current No. 1 team Alabama twice, the current No. 2 team Georgia three times, No. 3 Clemson and No. 9 Auburn among other top-ranked teams.
“We are always looking to add blockbuster matchups to our Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game schedule,” Stokan said. “And having Mercedes-Benz Stadium – the newest and best stadium in the world – as our venue is a huge advantage in recruiting top-ranked teams to come to Atlanta to play.”