Overview
- Ford Field confirmed it will not host a college football bowl in 2026, ending the event’s run that began in 1997 under names including the Motor City, Little Caesars, Quick Lane and GameAbove Sports bowls.
- The venue said the decision followed the conclusion of its naming-rights partnership and a reallocation of resources toward other sports and entertainment events.
- The shutdown is the third bowl cancellation in the past year, following the LA Bowl’s closure and the Bahamas Bowl’s removal and replacement by the Xbox Bowl in Frisco, Texas.
- Attendance had declined in recent editions — 27,857 for the 2025 game and 26,219 in 2024 — even as ESPN reported non-playoff bowls averaged 3.1 million viewers, with the 2025 Detroit game peaking at 2.7 million.
- It is not yet known whether Detroit will secure a replacement bowl, and the move has intensified scrutiny of lower-tier postseason games as the College Football Playoff format remains unsettled.