Arizona Bowl Tickets: Sun-Side Seats and Game Tips

By the Reserved Seat editorial teamUpdated October 1, 2026How we research

Upcoming Arizona Bowl dates

Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.

Sun first, then yard line: the Tucson seat rule

At the Arizona Bowl, the seat that matters most is on the west sideline of Casino Del Sol Stadium, ideally between the 20-yard lines. The game is an afternoon kickoff in late December, and the low winter sun hangs in the southwest. West-side fans have it behind them and pick up shade from their own stands as the game goes on. East-side fans spend much of the afternoon squinting into it.

The bowl is played on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson and, since 2020, has paired a Mountain West Conference team with a team from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Its full title is the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop, named for the rappers' beverage brand, which became title sponsor in 2024.

A 1929 stadium, sideline by sideline

Built in 1929, the old Arizona Stadium took the Casino Del Sol name in November 2025 through a 20-year agreement with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Its listed capacity, as of 2022, is 50,800. The turf field is laid out on a north-south axis roughly 2,430 feet above sea level. Since even the bowl's biggest crowd, 40,076 in 2024, fell well short of capacity, the building is seldom full for this game, and that works in your favor.

West sideline, 20 to 20. The top choice: a centered view, the sun at your back and growing shade in the second half.
East sideline. The same view while facing the sun. This is where the Arizona student section usually sits for Wildcats games. Bring sunglasses and a brimmed hat, because umbrellas are not permitted.
Upper sideline rows. Attendance usually lands somewhere in the 30,000s, so these tend to be the simplest seats to buy, and they still show the whole field.
North end zone. Sections 27 to 35, entered via Gates 1, 2 or 8, have permanent seating and a straight-on look at one goal line. Plays at the far end are hard to follow.

Once the sun sets behind the west stands late in the game, the temperature drops quickly, so carry a jacket even if the first half feels warm.

Picking a section near your team

Each fan base usually gathers in its own area, often near its band. After the matchup is announced, choosing a seat among your school's fans usually makes a better day than a slightly better angle surrounded by the other side.

The Mountain West half of the tie-in is changing. In 2026, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State moved to the rebuilt Pac-12, while UTEP and Hawaii joined the Mountain West and Northern Illinois joined for football. The pool of possible opponents will not look like recent years, so wait for the official pairing before planning a trip around a particular team.

When the 2026 game will be scheduled

No edition has ever been played before December 27 or after December 31. As of fall 2026, the Arizona Bowl and one other game still lacked a slot on the national bowl calendar; according to Sports Illustrated, its date would follow Selection Day (December 6), with The CW televising.

Recent editions have started in the early afternoon, including a 2:30 local kickoff on December 27, 2025. Because Arizona stays on standard time all year, listed times are Mountain Standard Time. Because the date arrives late and crowds rarely fill the stadium, sideline seats often stay available after the announcement, though the west side tends to go first.

Pep rally, tailgate festival and an after-party

The bowl calls its game week Pachanga Week and fills it with no-cost events for fans of both schools. For the 2025 game, Tucson station KVOA listed:

December 26: a downtown pep rally where 5th Avenue meets Toole Avenue, featuring each school's band, cheer squad and mascot.
Game day: the free Gin & Juice Tailgate Festival on the campus east mall, with food and drink vendors, a DJ and a head-to-head band competition.
After the game: a free gathering downtown at The Monica, on East Congress.

Snoop Dogg was set to attend in 2025 and flip the coin. Details shift annually, so check thearizonabowl.com after the 2026 teams are named.

Gates, bags and getting to campus

For the 2025 game, gates opened 90 minutes before kickoff under a clear-bag policy: a transparent plastic or vinyl bag no bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches or a clear gallon freezer bag, and a small clutch that fits in your hand, subject to inspection. Security turned away purses, coolers, backpacks and diaper bags, and tucking a prohibited bag inside a clear one did not get it through. Outside food and drinks were not allowed apart from water. Rules can change, so confirm them before you go.

Parking. Arizona Athletics says campus parking takes credit cards only. The nearest structure to the stadium is Cherry Garage.
Streetcar. The Sun Link Streetcar runs to campus, and the athletics department suggests parking along its line instead of near the stadium.
Which gate. West-side ticket holders use Gate 7 or 8. East-side fans use Gate 2, 3 or 6, and Gate 6 also leads to the south end zone.
Accessibility. The bowl handles wheelchair seating requests by phone at 520-AZBOWL1.

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Charity roots, odd sponsors and close finishes

The bowl runs as a nonprofit. Founder Ali Farhang built it around three aims: promote Tucson and Southern Arizona, bring economic activity to the region, and donate all net proceeds to nonprofits. A 2023 BizTucson report put total giving at about 5 million dollars, with more than 1.4 million from the 2022 game. Wikipedia lists the team payout for 2023 at 350,000 dollars, modest by bowl standards.

The first game, on December 29, 2015, was a curiosity: Nevada topped Colorado State 28–23. Both were Mountain West members, making it the first bowl outside a title game to pit league rivals against each other since 1979. Sponsors since then:

2015–2019: NOVA Home Loans.
2020: Offerpad.
2021–2023: Barstool Sports, which streamed the game on its own platforms before a CW simulcast.
2024 onward: Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop.

Tight games are common. The 2017, 2018 and 2022 games all needed overtime, and Wyoming edged Toledo 16–15 in 2023. Pandemic restrictions kept fans out in 2020, and a Boise State withdrawal wiped out the 2021 game. The 2024 record crowd saw Miami (Ohio) rout Colorado State 43–17; in 2025, Fresno State held Miami (Ohio) to a field goal in an 18–3 win, with 37,232 attending.

Frequently asked questions

Is the west or east side better at the Arizona Bowl?

The west side. During an afternoon kickoff, the low sun is in the southwest, so west-side seats have it behind them and gain shade later in the game.

Has the 2026 Arizona Bowl date been set?

Not as of fall 2026. A date was expected once Selection Day (December 6) passed. All previous games have been played from December 27 through December 31.

Can I bring an umbrella for shade?

No. Umbrellas are not allowed, so bring sunglasses and a hat if you sit on the east side.

What was Casino Del Sol Stadium called before?

Arizona Stadium. It was renamed in November 2025 under a 20-year agreement with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

Where does Arizona Bowl money go?

The bowl is a nonprofit that gives its net proceeds to charities. As of a 2023 report, it had donated about 5 million dollars to Southern Arizona nonprofits.

When do gates open for the Arizona Bowl?

For the 2025 game, gates opened 90 minutes before kickoff. Check the bowl's game page for the current schedule and bag rules.

Arizona Bowl Tickets