Detroit Loses Bowl Game After 29-Year Run

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Detroit's 29-year run as a bowl game host city has come to an end, as Ford Field will not have a postseason college football game in the 2026 season. The city first hosted the Motor City Bowl in 1997 at the Pontiac Silverdome, and the game later moved to Ford Field in 2002 and was renamed the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the Quick Lane Bowl, and most recently the GameAbove Sports Bowl.

Why it matters

Detroit's bowl game has been a staple of the city's sports and entertainment landscape for nearly three decades, drawing fans and generating economic activity. The end of the bowl game's run at Ford Field marks the conclusion of an era and raises questions about the future of postseason college football in the Motor City.

The details

In a statement, Ford Field noted that the end of its naming rights partnership with the bowl created the "right time to adjust our focus to invest in sports at all levels and other entertainment events." The GameAbove Sports Bowl, which featured teams from the Mid-American and Big Ten conferences, as well as some ACC teams, has been held at Ford Field for the past two years.

• The Motor City Bowl first launched in 1997 at the Pontiac Silverdome.
• The bowl game moved to Ford Field in 2002.
• The game has been known by various names over the years, including the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the Quick Lane Bowl, and most recently the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
• The last GameAbove Sports Bowl was held in December 2025.

What’s next

It is unclear if Detroit will seek to host a new bowl game at a different venue or if the city will be without a postseason college football game for the foreseeable future.