The rich history of American football at Fenway Park spans back to at least 1916, witnessing the exhilarating clashes of various professional and college football teams. Among them, the iconic Boston Patriots of the AFL era and the esteemed Boston College Eagles have graced the hallowed grounds of this historic ballpark. Despite this storied legacy, the idea of hosting a bowl game at Fenway had never materialized until the inception of the Fenway Bowl.
Initially slated to debut in the 2020–21 bowl season, the Fenway Bowl faced an unexpected setback due to concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports on October 23, 2020, revealed that the eagerly anticipated bowl game would not proceed as planned. Organizers later confirmed the postponement, prompting the creation of a temporary replacement, the Montgomery Bowl, during that season.
However, determination persisted, and on May 27, 2021, organizers revealed a rescheduled game date for the 2021–22 bowl season, slated for December 29, 2021. Further excitement ensued when Wasabi Technologies signed on as the game's title sponsor on November 4, 2021. Despite these promising developments, the game faced another setback as COVID issues within the Virginia team forced the cancellation of the anticipated matchup against SMU, just three days before kickoff.
Finally, after weathering multiple challenges, the Fenway Bowl saw its inaugural edition take place on December 17, 2022, as a part of the 2022–23 bowl season. This historic game featured a riveting showdown between Cincinnati and Louisville, marking a significant milestone in the Fenway Bowl's journey amidst the backdrop of its rich and enduring football history at Fenway Park.
Fenway Bowl Sponsorship and Broadcasting Rights
In preparation for the highly anticipated 2021–22 bowl season, organizers of the Fenway Bowl made a significant announcement on May 27, 2021, by unveiling the game date set for December 29, 2021. Alongside this exciting revelation, Wasabi Technologies, a prominent Boston-based provider of cutting-edge cloud storage solutions, emerged as the game's title sponsor after inking a multi-year agreement. This partnership marked the birth of the Wasabi Fenway Bowl and also led to the establishment of an Executive Committee comprising 16 members. This committee was tasked with offering strategic guidance to support the game's educational initiatives and its focus on community involvement.
Established in 2017, Wasabi has been revolutionizing the landscape of cloud storage by introducing a fresh approach to pricing, performance, and security. Recognized as one of technology's fastest-growing companies, Wasabi's groundbreaking "hot cloud storage" empowers businesses to store vast volumes of data at significantly reduced costs compared to traditional providers. Offering superior speed, performance, and accessibility without the complexity of convoluted pricing tiers or egress fees, Wasabi's innovation allows users to concentrate on fostering innovation within their enterprises rather than being bogged down by storage intricacies.
Regarding broadcasting rights, the Fenway Bowl secured a formidable partnership with ESPN as the television network responsible for airing the games. Additionally, Bowl Season Radio took charge of radio broadcasting, ensuring fans could enjoy the thrill of the games both visually and audibly through these prominent networks. This collaboration between the Fenway Bowl and these reputable broadcasting platforms aimed to amplify the reach and engagement of the games, allowing audiences to experience the excitement and fervor of college football at Fenway Park.
Fenway Bowl Winner List
The Fenway Bowl Winner List features notable victors in its brief history, including Cincinnati emerging triumphant against Louisville in the inaugural 2022 game. As the event continues to grow, showcasing college football talent, future champions are set to etch their names in this prestigious list. Stay tuned for the ongoing legacy of winners in the Fenway Bowl's annual clashes at Fenway Park.
| Date | Winning Team | Losing Team | ||
| December 17, 2022 | Louisville | 24 | Cincinnati | 7 |
Fenway Bowl Appearances and win-loss Records
The Fenway Bowl Appearances record showcases teams vying for glory, with Louisville and Cincinnati as inaugural contenders in 2022. As the competition unfolds annually, teams will add to their win-loss records, marking their presence and pursuit of victory on Fenway Park's storied grounds.
| Conference | Record | Appearances by season | ||||
| Games | W | L | Win pct. | Won | Lost | |
| ACC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2022 | |
| The American | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2022 | |
Fenway Bowl MVPs
The Fenway Bowl MVPs honor outstanding individual performances, with standout players leaving their mark in each edition of the game. As the tradition unfolds, exceptional athletes will continue to be recognized for their contributions to their team's success on the Fenway Park gridiron.
| Year | Offensive MVP | Defensive MVP | ||||
| Player | Team | Pos. | Player | Team | Pos. | |
| 2022 | Jawhar Jordan | Louisville | RB | Monty Montgomery | Louisville | LB |
FAQs
The Fenway Bowl marks a recent addition to the historical American football legacy at Fenway Park, commencing its inaugural game in 2022 after overcoming postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Louisville claimed victory in the inaugural Fenway Bowl against Cincinnati with a final score of 24-7 on December 17, 2022.
The debut of the Fenway Bowl in the 2020–21 season was delayed due to concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wasabi Technologies emerged as the title sponsor of the Fenway Bowl, while ESPN handled television broadcasting and Bowl Season Radio managed radio broadcasting for the games.
Louisville and Cincinnati are the only teams that have made appearances in the Fenway Bowl in 2022, with Louisville securing victory in their single appearance.
Jawhar Jordan from Louisville was recognized as the Offensive MVP, and Monty Montgomery, also from Louisville, was honored as the Defensive MVP in the inaugural 2022 Fenway Bowl.
