Move over Jimmy Kimmel, it’s Gronk’s bowl game now.
Rob Gronkowski is taking over hosting duties for the L.A. Bowl, SoFi Stadium’s owned and operated college football bowl game, from late night host Kimmel. The former NFL star has entered into a multi-year agreement to rename the annual bowl game “L.A. Bowl Hosted by Gronk,” the SoFi Stadium announced on Saturday.
“Football has brought me so many incredible opportunities, and I’m thrilled to return to college football as the host of my very own bowl game,” Gronkowski said in a statement. “We are going to light up college football bowl season. This game is going to be epic, so I better see everyone at the L.A. Bowl Hosted by Gronk at SoFi Stadium on December 16!”
The game, previously called the “Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl,” was hosted by the late night host for the past two years. Kimmel turned the bowl game into a bit on his eponymous ABC talk show, creating an official mascot called Jimmy Camel and an official sandwich for the collegiate football game.
Gronkowski is set to kick off the game with a specialized grand entrance, preside over the coin toss and close out the night by presenting the winning team with the “L.A. Hosted by Gronk” championship belt. The Gronkowski family business, Gronk Fitness, and Chris Gronkowsi and his brother Rob’s company, Ice Shaker, will be partnering with “L.A. Bowl Hosted by Gronk.”
“Rob is larger than life and an outstanding representation of football at the highest level,” said Chris Sloan, head of global partnerships, SoFi Stadium, Hollywood Park and “L.A. Bowl Hosted by Gronk.” “The L.A. Bowl Hosted By Gronk continues to merge the world of competitive sports with top-notch entertainment, and we cannot wait for the fans to experience college bowl season with Rob Gronkowski.”
“L.A. Bowl Hosted by Gronk” will take place at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 16, featuring the Mountain West’s No. 1 selection face off against the Pac-12’s No. 5 selection.
