Pop-Tarts Bowl Tickets

Start in the lower bowl: the Pop-Tarts Bowl seat answer

For the Pop-Tarts Bowl, buy a lower-level sideline seat between the 20-yard lines, roughly row 15 or higher. In 2026 that advice carries extra weight, because Camping World Stadium is mid-renovation and the lower bowl, rebuilt in 2014 with about 41,000 chairback seats, is the most dependable part of the building. The game kicks off Tuesday, December 29, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

Sun is not part of the decision. Orlando's late-December sunset arrives close to kickoff, so the game is effectively played at night. That leaves you choosing purely on sightline, height and which fan base you want around you.

Camping World Stadium while the upper deck is rebuilt

The stadium, owned by the City of Orlando, opened in 1936 as Orlando Stadium and sits in the West Lakes neighborhood just west of downtown. It held about 60,000 for football before its current 400-million-dollar renovation, which is due to finish in 2027. The work rebuilds the upper seating bowl with new chairbacks and widens the terrace-level concourses.

Both the bowl and the stadium say the 2026 game will run at reduced capacity. Some upper sections will not be sold, so pick from whatever is actually listed for this event rather than from an older seating chart.

Section numbers by sideline

The field runs north to south. One shade guide places the sections this way:

• East sideline: field sections 103–113, plaza sections P02–P14, terrace sections 201–215.
• West sideline: field sections 129–139, plaza sections P28–P40, terrace sections 227–241.

Picking rows, height and a sideline in Orlando

• Mid-rows of the field level, near midfield. The best overall seat. About 15 rows up clears the bench and the sideline crowd.
• Plaza sections. A raised view from either sideline without the distance of the terrace. A strong pick if you like to see plays unfold.
• East or west. With no sun to dodge, the two sides are mirror images. Choose the one nearer your team's allotment if crowd noise matters.
• End zones. The lowest-demand seats in the house, good for red-zone plays up close but poor for following the full field.
• Front rows. Not worth a premium; the angle is flat and the sideline traffic gets in the way.

How the ACC and Big 12 get to Orlando

The bowl's tie-ins (contracts that reserve its slots for certain conferences) send the highest-ranked ACC team outside the College Football Playoff against the Big 12's second pick outside the playoff. That puts this game near the top of the non-playoff schedule. The 2026 game is the 37th overall, the 26th in Orlando and the 13th straight between these two leagues, with the Big 12 on a three-game win streak. Teams are named on December 6, and public tickets go on sale after that.

Florida Citrus Sports, a not-for-profit event group, runs the game and also stages the Citrus Bowl in the same stadium a few days later.

Matchups, holiday week and reduced seating

The pairing sets the crowd. Florida State and Oklahoma pulled 61,520 in 2022; the three games since, with schools from far outside Florida, drew between about 31,000 and 39,000. This year, a smaller seating supply can tighten the market even for an average matchup.

• December 6 is the biggest pricing moment, when the teams are revealed.
• The week between Christmas and New Year's fills Orlando with theme-park travelers, so hotel rooms go quickly. Book early.
• Lower-bowl sideline seats usually go first, while end zones and corners last into game week.

Every Reserved Seat order is backed by guaranteed entry.

Strawberry, Cinnamon Roll and the giant toaster

Pop-Tarts became the title sponsor in 2023 and introduced Strawberry, a giant costumed pastry billed as the first edible mascot. After the game it was lowered into an oversized toaster, and the winners received an edible replica. A new trophy topped a metallic football with two toaster slots.

• 2024: fans picked the mascot by vote, and Cinnamon Roll won. The trophy became a working 77-pound toaster.
• 2025: supporters of the winning team chose which mascots went into the toaster.

It happens on the field after the trophy is handed out, so stay put if you want to see it.

From the Blockbuster Bowl to a breakfast pastry

The game began on December 28, 1990, in Miami Gardens as the Blockbuster Bowl, and that first game, Florida State against Penn State, drew 74,021, still the record. Florida Citrus Sports took over after the 2000 season and moved the game to Orlando in 2001. Its names since: Carquest (1994–1997), MicronPC (1998–2000), Tangerine under Visit Florida and Mazda (2001–2003), Champs Sports (2004–2011), Russell Athletic (2012–2016), Camping World (2017–2019), Cheez-It (2020–2022) and Pop-Tarts from 2023.

• 2022: Florida State edged Oklahoma 35–32.
• 2023: Kansas State beat NC State 28–19.
• 2024: Iowa State won 42–41 over Miami, whose 41 points set the bowl's record for a losing team.
• 2025: BYU held off Georgia Tech 25–21.

Driving in, lots, shuttles and clear bags

From Interstate 4 eastbound, drivers usually exit at John Young Parkway; westbound, at Colonial Drive. The stadium uses lots lettered A–G and numbered 1–10, not all open for every event, with Lot 6 reserved for accessible parking. Parking costs extra, and tailgating is allowed in most lots, without kegs or tents over 10 by 10 feet.

• Downtown shuttle: for some events a free shuttle runs from Central Boulevard between Garland and Hughey Avenues to near Gate A; check that it runs for the bowl.
• LYNX buses: routes 20, 21 and 36 serve the area.
• No re-entry once you leave.
• Bags: as of fall 2026, clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 14 by 14 by 6 inches are allowed, along with clear one-gallon freezer bags. That is a different size from the 12 by 6 by 12 rule many NFL venues use. Backpacks, coolers, umbrellas and rigid seat cushions are banned.

Rules may shift during construction, so check the Camping World Stadium A–Z guide close to game day.

Sources

• Pop-Tarts Bowl – 2026 game announcement
• Florida Citrus Sports – 2026-27 schedule at Camping World Stadium
• Florida Citrus Sports – Stadium renovation
• Camping World Stadium – Pop-Tarts Bowl 2026
• Camping World Stadium – A to Z Guide
• Camping World Stadium – Directions and Parking
• Wikipedia – Pop-Tarts Bowl
• Wikipedia – Camping World Stadium
• Shaded Seats – Camping World Stadium