Florida Beach Bowl Explained

Florida Beach Bowl
Stadium:DRV PNK Stadium
Location:Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Years:2023
Conference Tie-Ins:CIAA, SIAC
Sponsors:Amerant Bank (2023)

The Florida Beach Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game contested between NCAA Division II teams from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), two athletic conferences traditionally consisting of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The first edition of the bowl was played on December 13, 2023, at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On November 4, 2024, the CIAA and SIAC revealed that the game would not be held in 2024, but did not address whether it would resume in future years.

The Florida Beach Bowl is one of three Division II sanctioned bowl games. The others are the America's Crossroads Bowl and Heritage Bowl.

History

thumb|280px|right|upright=1.1|DRV PNK Stadium in November 2021

The bowl was announced in September 2023 by organizers and officials with Inter Miami CF, who operate the host stadium.[1] [2] Urban Edge Network (UEN) was subsequently announced as the broadcaster for the bowl, and Amerant Bank as the official sponsor.[3] [4]

The 2023 Florida Beach Bowl revived the CIAA–SIAC postseason matchup of the defunct Pioneer Bowl, contested from 1997 to 2012. Selection standards included a record of at least six wins,[5] for teams not invited to participate in the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs. Victor Robenson, bowl CEO, revealed the ultimate goal of having the game match the champions of the two conferences in a Black college championship for Division II, similar to the way the Celebration Bowl functions as the Black college title game for the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).[6]

On November 4, 2024, sources within the CIAA and SIAC confirmed the Florida Beach Bowl would not be held in 2024, revealing that "funding was an issue as the bowl looked to build off of its inaugural game."[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: New Florida Beach Bowl game will feature 2 HBCUs during post-season play in Fort Lauderdale . Ted . Scouten . . September 14, 2023 . November 25, 2023.
  2. News: DRV PNK Stadium to Host Inaugural Florida Beach Bowl on Dec. 13 . Inter Miami CF Communications Department . intermiamicf.com . October 9, 2023 . November 25, 2023.
  3. Web site: Miami Herald. A19. Florida Beach Bowl. November 2, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  4. Amerant Bank Inks Partnership as Official Sponsor of Inaugural Florida Beach Bowl . amerantbank.com . October 30, 2023 . December 12, 2023.
  5. Florida Beach Bowl, UEN Empowers HBCU Conferences With Postseason Football . Kyle T. . Mosley . . September 11, 2023 . November 25, 2023.
  6. Web site: Miami Herald. HBCUs to clash in Fort Lauderdale. subscription. C. Isaiah. Smalls II. November 17, 2023. November 25, 2023.
  7. Web site: Lexington Herald-Leader. HBCU football bowl game won't happen this year. Steven. Gaither. November 4, 2024. November 4, 2024.
  8. Fort Valley State Defeats Johnson C. Smith In the Inaugural Florida Beach Bowl . Kyle T. . Mosley . . December 13, 2023 . December 14, 2023.

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