In the wake of its 50th Anniversary season in 2017, Peach Bowl, Inc. followed up with another milestone year in 2018. The organization that runs the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game delivered impressive numbers for the two top-10 matchups it hosted this year including total attendance (144,109 for two sellouts), television viewership (15.4 million) and total team payouts ($20.3 million). In addition, college football’s most charitable bowl organization contributed a record $10.1 million in charitable and scholarship giving.

“By every measurable metric, this was a tremendously successful year.  We couldn’t have accomplished this without our relationship with the College Football Playoff, the players, coaches and fans from Washington, Auburn, Florida and Michigan, Chick-fil-A, our sponsors and partners, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and our staff and volunteers,” said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and president. “But I’m especially proud of the memories we created for our teams and their fans, and the charitable contributions we were able to make in our community. At the end of the day those are the metrics that matter most.”

“We were humbled and proud to have the opportunity this year to host two top-10 matchups and to provide a best-in-class bowl week experience,” said Bob Somers, Peach Bowl, Inc. chairman. “These games are a big reason why Atlanta is the capital of college football. Now, we will turn the page and focus our efforts on our next challenge, hosting a 2019 College Football Playoff Semifinal.”

MATCHUP:

This year’s matchup of No. 10 Florida and No. 7 Michigan was one of only four bowl games to host two top-10 teams in the 2018-19 bowl season. The other three were the two College Football Playoff Semifinals and the Rose Bowl.  This marked the third top-10 matchup for the Bowl in the College Football Playoff era.

ATTENDANCE:

With 74,006 fans in attendance, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl turned in the second-highest attendance of all bowl games outside the College Football Playoff National Championship, trailing only the Rose Bowl (91,853). The figure helped the bowl eclipse the 3 million mark (3,023,931) for cumulative attendance over the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl’s 51 years. The 2018 game was the Bowl’s third straight sellout as a New Year’s Six bowl game and the 20th sellout in the last 22 years.

This season’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game between Washington and Auburn drew 70,103.

Combined, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games have had 3.9 million fans attend Peach Bowl, Inc. events.

VIEWERSHIP:

The top-10 showdown between No. 10 Florida and No. 7 Michigan delivered an audience of 9.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched non-Semifinal for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in the CFP era.

Since 1991, more than 173.8 million viewers have watched the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on ESPN.

TEAM PAYOUT:

Washington and Auburn received a total of $8.3 million in team payouts for their participation in the season-opening Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

Florida and Michigan received $6 million each – for a total of $12 million – in team payouts for playing in this year’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The Bowl has now disbursed $185.2 million in team payouts in its 51 years.

Peach Bowl, Inc. has distributed a total of $261 million in all-time team payouts over all its events.

CHARITABLE GIVING:

Peach Bowl, Inc. validated its distinction as college football’s most charitable bowl organization in 2018 by contributing a record $10.1 million in charitable and scholarship donations.

Highlights of the record year in giving included:

• $8 million Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame

• $515,000 Endowed Scholarship Program

• $405,500 University Head Coach Foundations (various)

• $400,000 Atlanta Public Schools: Childhood Literacy Initiative and Academic Mentoring Program

• $357,000 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Touchdowns for Children’s Campaign

• $200,000 American Red Cross (Hurricane relief)

• $175,000 WinShape Foundation

• $ 50,000           Lions Lighthouse Foundation

• $ 50,000           Lions Clubs International

These donations bring Peach Bowl, Inc.’s total bowl industry leading charitable contributions to $32.8 million since 2002.