PlayStation Fiesta Bowl will see College Football Playoff Semifinals twice more by 2026

Glendale will host College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal matchups at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl twice more in the coming years, according to a press release from the bowl organization.

“The Fiesta Bowl, along with the Cactus League, has been a sports tourism cornerstone for Arizona,” said Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Under a newly-signed agreement between the Fiesta Bowl and CFP organizations, the annual event is in the rotation to host semifinal matchups in the 2022-23 and 2025-26 seasons.

“Every year the Fiesta Bowl welcomes two of the top college football teams in the nation, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that we will continue to do so for years to come,” Hamer said.

The Fiesta Bowl has been a part of the CFP since its inauguration in 2014, first hosting the semifinal match during the 2016-17 season. The bowl has driven $1 billion in economic impact for the state in the last four seasons.

“Our extension with the College Football Playoff reflects the year-round work that enhances our legacy as a first-in-class college football bowl organization,” said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy.

Participating in the CFP Semifinal helps achieve the Fiesta Bowl’s goal of creating innovative experiences and driving economic growth in Arizona, Nealy said.

“The entire state of Arizona has fully embraced the opportunity to be a part of this very popular event and to showcase the unique opportunities that the Fiesta Bowl offers to visitors,” said CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock.

The Fiesta Bowl has contributed $10 million in charitable giving to the Arizona community in the past seven years, including $2.5 million in the current season, making it the largest charitable donor of any college football bowl organization.

The next CFP Semifinal hosted by the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl will take place on Dec. 28, 2019.

“While the rest of America is digging out from its latest snowstorm, we’ll be welcoming football fans with chamber of commerce weather and outstanding hospitality,” Hamer said.