Puerto Rico Lands First Bowl Game

Bowl season is headed to Puerto Rico.

Complete Sports Management and ESPN Events have announced the inaugural Puerto Rico Bowl in collaboration with Discover Puerto Rico — the first time the island will host an American college football game.

The game will be staged at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón and broadcast by ESPN. The contest will pit a Mid-American Conference team against another NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. While the game will be played in December 2026, an exact date and kickoff time will be announced later.

The event is part of an expanded 41-bowl game season recently sanctioned by the NCAA.

“Puerto Rico is simply a magical place with magical people,” said Complete Sports Management President Lea Miller-Tooley. “This game is going to be of historical significance with an incredible impact on sports tourism and exposure for one of the most beautiful places in the world. We thank Discover Puerto Rico for their partnership and look forward to our relationship for many years to come.”

Discover Puerto Rico is the region’s official destination marketing organization.

“Puerto Rico offers world-class venues for virtually every sport, combined with seamless, passport-free travel for U.S. visitors and a tropical climate that makes year-round athletic competition possible,” said Discover Puerto Rico Chief Executive Director Jorge L. Perez. “We are especially thrilled to welcome the Puerto Rico Bowl, a historic landmark event that underscores our Island’s growing stature as a world-class sports destination that offers an electrifying new experience to both teams and fans alike.”

Pedigree of Caribbean Events

CSM previously launched the Bahamas Bowl in 2014, which was the first major college football bowl game played outside the United States and Canada between two U.S. teams since the Bacardi Bowl in 1937. CSM also created the Battle 4 Atlantis men’s (2011) and women’s (2021) college basketball tournaments and the Oui-Play Paris women’s doubleheader, which tips off the college basketball season annually.

“Through our long-standing bowl partnership with ESPN Events and Complete Sports Management, the Mid-American Conference is pleased to have an opportunity to participate in the inaugural Puerto Rico Bowl,” said Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. “Having the opportunity to compete in such a special place will make for a memorable event for the student-athletes and fans.”