MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas (l), SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris, SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp, Senior Vice President, ESPN Events Pete Derzis and Chief Executive Officer, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. John Grant during the Celebration Bowl announcement. Before you make those holiday travel plans, hear this: the Celebration Bowl is coming to Atlanta in December. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) will meet in the newly created postseason game on Dec. 19, 2015, pitting the conference champion from two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The game will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, on an ESPN network. Owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, which also owns the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, the Celebration Bowl is committed to providing the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and their alumni, fans and sponsors a first-class bowl experience while continuing to celebrate the legacy, values and traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Events surrounding the game will include a kickoff luncheon, VIP event, community outreach and family events. A press conference was held at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. MEAC & SWAC Celebration Bowl announcement at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell (l), John Grant, Dennis Thomas, Jay Harris, Duer Sharp, Falcons President & CEO Rich McKay and Pete Derzis during the Celebration Bowl announcement. Jay Harris during the Celebration Bowl announcement. Senior Vice President, ESPN Events Pete Derzis.
(Richard DuCree/ESPN Images)
