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Rate Bowl Rebrands as Cactus Bowl and Moves Back to ASU Stadium

Fiesta Sports Foundation says the change restores the game’s Arizona identity, boosting Tempe exposure and tourism through a high-profile holiday matchup.

The new Cactus Bowl logo, unveiled by Fiesta Sports Foundation on June 3, 2026.
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Overview

  • The Fiesta Sports Foundation announced the Rate Bowl will be renamed the Cactus Bowl and return to Mountain America Stadium in Tempe for the 2026 season.
  • The Foundation unveiled a new cactus-themed logo that incorporates goalpost imagery, a football in motion, and an Arizona sunset motif.
  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 26 in ABC prime time and will feature a matchup between a Big Ten team and a Big 12 team with ESPN digital coverage.
  • Arizona State, Arizona and other legacy Pac-12 schools remain ineligible for this bowl through the 2026 season under current bowl-allocation rules tied to conference realignment.
  • Local officials and ASU leaders say the stadium move aims to revive long-standing Arizona ties for the bowl, bring holiday tourism to Tempe, and recreate the on-campus atmosphere last seen when the game was held there through 2015.