Kick off your trip to the ReliaQuest Bowl with fan events, citywide excitement, and a perfectly located vacation rental to huddle up and get ready for the next activity.
Tampa always ends the year with a bang with this annual college football bowl. No matter if you’re cheering on your favorite team or just want to soak up the fandom atmosphere, you can expect to join thousands of fans for this lively event.
The ReliaQuest Bowl happens in Tampa, but the week around it is supercharged with events throughout Tampa Bay and Clearwater. Sunny Orange Stays has vacation rentals in Clearwater Beach that offer easy access to the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and are spacious enough to accommodate large groups in town for the big game.
The ReliaQuest Bowl is much more than just football. Here is everything happening during bowl week, and how to plan around it.
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ReliaQuest Bowl 2026
- When
- Thursday, December 31, 2026, 12.03 PM ET
- Where
- Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
- Cost
- From $80
It’s a showdown on the gridiron, and nothing beats experiencing the game-day action in person. The ReliaQuest Bowl matches up one team each from the SEC and Big Ten conferences in one of the longest-running postseason games in Florida.
Thousands of fans visit Tampa every year for the game. Join a sea of your alma mater’s school colors inside Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Bucs. The entire stadium erupts in cheers for every point added to the box score. See if your team can pull it off to win the championship.
ReliaQuest Bowl has been a tradition since 1986, when it was founded as the Hall of Fame Bowl, then later called the Outback Bowl.
ReliaQuest Bowl has been a tradition since 1986, when it was founded as the Hall of Fame Bowl, then later called the Outback Bowl.
The Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes are two of the bowl’s leading teams, with seven appearances each over the years. Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Vanderbilt Commodores have all featured here too, among many more.
Arrive early to tailgate and walk around the stadium grounds. You can expect a host of pre-game events, such as live music, interactive games, and performances from cheerleaders and college bands.
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The Full ReliaQuest Bowl Week Schedule of Events
Bowl week is not one afternoon of football. It is a six-day run of public events throughout the Tampa Bay metro area. The best part? Most of them cost nothing to attend. Here is the full schedule of dates to mark on your calendar.
Busch Gardens Team Outing
- When
- Monday, December 28, 2026
- Where
- Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay
- Ticket needed
- Park admission only, from $61.99
Spend a day at Busch Gardens alongside the players from both teams. The week kicks off with a team outing, and the general public is invited.
Ride Iron Gwazi and Montu for extreme roller coaster fun and see more than 200 animal species at the zoo. You may even spot your favorite players taking pictures with fans.
ReliaQuest Bowl Clearwater Beach Day
- When
- Tuesday, December 29, 2026
- Where
- Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
- Ticket needed
- No; free and open to the public
You’re invited to the official ReliaQuest Bowl tailgating party. Experience the team spirit from both teams and all the fan support on the beautiful Clearwater Beach.
Both marching bands play on the sand, cheerleaders run a tug-of-war, and the teams face off in a variety of friendly competitions. Attendees often have the opportunity to win prizes like VIP game experiences during fan giveaways.
Battle of the Bands
- When
- Wednesday, December 3, 2026
- Where
- Gwazi Park at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay
- Ticket needed
- Park admission only
Jam to the horns and move to the drum beat. The marching bands from both schools show off their best battle songs in a head-to-head matchup in the open-air Gwazi Park stage area. Consider this your preview to the halftime marching band show during the bowl game.
ReliaQuest Bowl Parade and Pep Rally
- When
- Wednesday, December 30, 2026, from 5:30 PM
- Where
- 7th Avenue, Ybor City
- Ticket needed
- No, free and open to the public
Find a spot on Ybor City’s 7th Avenue for a front-row view of the annual bowl parade. Both fan bases take over the brick streets of Tampa’s historic Latin district for a parade of floats, marching bands, cheer squads, and more.
Stick around at the end for a joint pep rally and see which team has the loudest fans. There are plenty of restaurants and bars in this part of Tampa, so make a night of it.
Pregame Bowl Bash
- When
- Thursday, December 31, from 9 AM
- Where
- South plaza at Raymond James Stadium, between Gates C and D
- Ticket needed
- No, free and open to the public
Three hours before kickoff, the stadium’s south plaza hosts a pre-game celebration for fans. Start your day with live music, games, and fan activations for all ages. You don’t even have to be a sports fan to enjoy the fun atmosphere.
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Do You Need Game Tickets to Enjoy ReliaQuest Bowl Week?
No. Other than the actual ReliaQuest Bowl game, many of the other events throughout the week are free.
Clearwater Beach Day, the Ybor City parade and pep rally, and the Pregame Bowl Bash are all free and open to the public.
Tickets are required to enter inside Raymond James Stadium on game day.
The Busch Gardens outing and Battle of the Bands event at Busch Gardens both require regular park admission, which visitors can purchase at the gate or from the Busch Gardens website in advance. No additional Bowl credential of any kind is required.
Tickets are required to enter inside Raymond James Stadium on game day. These tickets include access to the game itself, the pregame show on the field, and the halftime show.
Tickets vary in price. Premium club seat tickets provide access to additional amenities such as climate-controlled indoor lounges, private restrooms, and upscale bars and dining options.
04
Why Clearwater Beach Makes a Smart Base for the Game
Plenty of visitors book downtown Tampa, FL, but staying in Clearwater Beach is often a better option. It’s far less crowded than Tampa while still providing easy access to the week’s activities.
The journey from Clearwater Beach to Raymond James Stadium is roughly 25 miles, which is close to 40 minutes on a clear day. But expect more traffic during this week, so plan to leave earlier so you won’t miss the kick-off.
Keep in mind that the Bowl takes place on New Year’s Eve, so accommodations and restaurant reservations are harder to get if you don’t book in advance. With price surges in Tampa due to demand, booking a vacation rental in Clearwater Beach is an excellent alternative.
Not only is Clearwater Beach the best place to be for the ReliaQuest Bowl Beach Day, but it also has a bunch of fun attractions and activities to fill your time outside of Bowl events.
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What to Know Before You Go
Here are answers to a few practical questions before you start booking your trip to the ReliaQuest Bowl.
When do ReliaQuest Bowl tickets go on sale?
General admission tickets are released to the public in late fall. In 2026, they go on sale on November 25. You can purchase on the Ticketmaster website to receive a mobile ticket, or call the ReliaQuest Bowl Office.
Sometimes premium and hospitality packages open earlier through the bowl office, so call ahead if you want club seats rather than scoring general admission later.
How do you get to Raymond James Stadium?
Most visitors drive and park in the stadium lots, and prepaid parking is the safer option for a sellout crowd. The parking lot opens at 8 AM, which is 4 hours before kick-off.
The rideshare drop-off zone is on Dale Mabry Hwy, next to the pedestrian bridge, and pickup zone is at Steinbrenner Field.
What is the weather like in Tampa Bay in late December?
Expect mild, dry days and cool evenings during the winter season. It is comfortable enough for the beach in the afternoon and cool enough to wear layers for the evening post-game celebrations.
Is Bowl week good for families?
Yes, many of the ReliaQuest Bowl events are family-friendly. Fan activations outside the stadium include kids’ activities.
Let’s plan it
Ready to Plan Your ReliaQuest Bowl Trip?
Touch down in Tampa for the ReliaQuest Bowl. It’s the perfect winter trip to enjoy one of the biggest college football bowls right before ringing in the New Year.
We recommend booking your accommodations well in advance for this popular week. Avoid the crowds and high rates in Tampa and check out our vacation rentals in Clearwater Beach instead. They’re perfectly located for enjoying everything the ReliaQuest Bowl has to offer alongside sun, sand, and sea.
See you on the sand.