OUR MISSION
A Colorful Piece of Arizona History
In 1971, nine visionaries broke into the ranks of the established bowl system, making Arizona's first college football bowl game a reality. While the goal of those nine Fiesta Bowl Founders was to put into motion a postseason college football matchup, the organization has grown to be a leader in Arizona, providing statewide impact on and off the gridiron.
The Fiesta Sports Foundation's mission is to be a world-class community organization dedicated to providing premier college football bowl experiences and local events that serve as economic drivers for Arizona and provide charitable resources for our community. As a nonprofit organization, we believe in the importance of fostering a culture of community engagement and service.
Based in Scottsdale, the Fiesta Sports Foundation hosts a variety of local events each year, as well as two elite bowl games, the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl held at State Farm Stadium and the Rate Bowl held at Chase Field. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and events such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, Fiesta Sports Foundation has granted nearly $32 million to the Arizona community in the last 14 years.
Our Mission
The Fiesta Sports Foundation is home to the premier College Football Playoff postseason game, the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the fan-friendly Rate Bowl and multiple year-round live sports and entertainment events that fuel our mission to deliver positive economic impact and charitable resources that benefit communities across the state of Arizona.
Our Vision
To be Arizona's leading organization in creating unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact.
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Founders
The Fiesta Bowl has become such an integral part of the college bowl season that it's easy to forget it's a relatively young bowl game. In the spirit of the Old West, it took some wheeling and dealing and a little bit of grit from some upstart Arizonans to break into the ranks of the established bowl system. Here are some of the colorful characters, the visionaries and the movers and shakers, who worked together in those early days to make the Fiesta Bowl a reality in 1971.
Meet Our Founders
Board of Directors
The strategic force behind the Fiesta Sports Foundation and its continued success as a pillar of the community is its Board of Directors. These volunteer leaders set the standard of governance by advising on strategic initiatives, implementing policies, regulating finances and determining the Bowl's strong future direction.
Meet Our Directors
Yellow Jacket Committee
The Fiesta Sports Foundation Yellow Jacket Committee is a team of community leaders, who dedicate themselves in work with sponsors, volunteers, staff, and the Board of Directors to support the Fiesta Sports Foundation and its events.
Meet Our Committee
Ambassadors
Our Ambassadors support the Fiesta Sports Foundation Yellow Jacket Committee and provide first-in-class hospitality to administration, players and guests from Rate Bowl and Vrbo Fiesta Bowl teams and at our year-round events.
Meet Our Ambassadors
Fiesta Sports Foundation Staff
Fiesta Sports Foundation staff continually set a new standard and work diligently year-round to make sure our Bowl games, events and philanthropic efforts in the community have maximum impact and serve the organization's mission.
Meet Our Staff
