Overview

• Holiday Bowl officials held meetings in Saudi Arabia in the spring, and CEO Mark Neville traveled there in June to discuss logistics.
• Reporting indicates the proposal came with a potential $5–6 million financial boost for organizers.
• ACC leaders reviewed the concept over the summer and declined to support it, so the game will be played Jan. 2 in San Diego between an ACC team and a current or former Pac-12 team.
• Coverage cited logistical and reputational concerns, including long travel and significant time-zone differences, as factors working against the move.
• Sports San Diego is managing financial pressure after COVID-era cancellations and lacks a title sponsor, while Saudi interests continue to pursue major events such as an NFL game.