Atlanta will host to the newly created Celebration Bowl, where the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Champions will face off against the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Champions, ESPNEvents announced March 18 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
The MEAC and the SWAC already duel it out in ESPN Events’ MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, which is played annually over Labor Day Weekend.
“We are excited to work with ESPN to begin a new tradition of celebrating the best in Historically Black College and Universities football while continuing our commitment to the countless students, parents and community members who we serve daily,” said John Grant, CEO of 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc. “Our relationship with ESPN will help us continue our long-standing tradition of uplifting the African American community.”
The SWAC consists of Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Grambling State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University & A&M College and Texas Southern University.
The MEAC consists of Bethune-Cookman, Coppin State, Delaware State, Florida A&M, Hampton, Howard, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Savannah State and South Carolina State.
“We’re honored and excited to be involved in the inaugural Celebration Bowl which will feature the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC),” said Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons. “The Falcons have long been strong advocates for historically black college football with our close partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame enshrinement dinner each year.”
The game will be played at Georgia Domein Atlanta following the 2015 season on Dec. 19.
The Georgia Dome also hosts The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.