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Citrus Bowl

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About

Citrus Bowl History

The Citrus Bowl in Orlando is one of college football's signature events, a burst of Florida sunshine on New Year's Day. The game, traditionally played on January 1, usually pits an SEC team against a representative from the Big Ten.

The event was born in 1947 as the Tangerine Bowl, with the Catawba Indians beating the Maryville Scots, 31-6. The initial sponsors were members of a local Elks Lodge who each put up $100 to cover expenses. Proceeds went to the Harry Anna Children's Hospital, which is why the bowl would come to be known as the "Little Bowl with the Big Heart." The stadium, built in 1936 under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration, accommodated just 8,900 fans.

Today the stadium — now called Camping World Stadium — is a fully modern, 65,000-capacity facility, and the Citrus Bowl is a centerpiece of the bowl season. While it lacks the pageantry of the Rose Bowl on the other side of the country, the game is rich with the sport's history, both bad and good. The unbeaten 1955 Hillsdale College football team refused an invitation to the bowl after officials said the school's four black players would not be allowed to play. Likewise, University of Buffalo players in 1958 elected to skip the game because its two black players would have been kept off the field. But by 1966, the color line had been lifted, and Morgan State became the first historically black college to play in the bowl. The Bears went on to beat the West Chester Golden Rams, 14-6.

Other memorable games include the 1996 Citrus Bowl, in which fourth-ranked Tennessee beat fourth-ranked Ohio State, 20-14, and the 1969 edition, in which Toledo hung 56 points on Davidson, a bowl record that stands today.

Reviews

Rating: 4 out of 5 based on 297 reviews
  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    by Anonymous on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    Amazing and fun time. My family enjoyed the fanfest and the game.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Great Atmosphere

    by Gump334 on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    Really enjoyed the game. Event staff was polite and helped me to my seats. Atmosphere was very nice. Food was good as well.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Capital One Bowl was great!!

    by Rockrobster on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    Had a great experience, field & facilities are nice. No real complaints and would definitely go again.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Capital One Bowl was Awesome!

    by BethMax on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    I thought the game was awesome. It could be because my team was winning but overall it was great. The seating was very crowded, but that is expected at a sports game. Everyone was very pleasant and the shuttles ran smoothly.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Had a Great Time

    by EkeBrown on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    The Capitol One Bowl was a great experience. Getting our tickets through ticketmaster went smoothly. Parking at the Geico garage downtown and riding the free shuttle made getting in to and out of the stadium easy. The facility was clean and easily maneuverable. The Fanfest was a little disappointing, but not enough so as to dampen the experience. And to top it all off, Bama won BIG, 49 - 7 over Michigan State. Roll Tide!

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Cap1Bowl

    by DCam on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    This is our 10th season attending the Captial One Bowl. It's always a well run event. The security is top notch. My only complaint is that the parking lots did not open until 7 AM this year. That led to much frustration and unecessary traffic ongestion.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    by FLA65 on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    Great time - Fanfare outside was a lot of fun. Only problem was the stadium ran out of cold drinks by the 3rd quarter...plenty of beer, but no water, soda or powerade. Tough when it's in the 80's in Orlando on New Years Day!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    The Spartans were Conquered by the Tide!

    by DeeMan81 on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    Crimson Tide bowl games are always epic events, and this year's Capital One Bowl was no exception! Even the balcony seats in enemy territory (like the ones I purchased) were outstanding! This event is recommended with the caveat that it won't happen exactly like this for about 15 years, and who knows if Bama will win that game!

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    Capital One Bowl was blah

    by tlahoward on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    Tailgating in paid parking lot B was enjoyable. We were not crammed in our spaces. However, 8 portajohns made you plan ahead for at least a 25 minute wait to use them. People in line came from all over the stadium to use the facility. There was no one selling anything or giving anything away. Inside the stadium was also without any fanfare. No draft beers or cups to pour a 24 oz beer into. The lines for food were long. I had $20 in my back pocket ready to spend, and I left with the $20 in my back pocket.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    GREAT GAME IF YOU WERE A BAMA FAN

    by MARYRR on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    The stadium is great. We parked at the Geico Parking lot , which was easy. The bus shuttle service was fabulous with quick access to the stadium both coming and going. The Citrus Bowl should in the future be ready for a larger crowd. You're not allowed to bring in any beverages, but the vendors inside the stadium ran out of Coke, lemonade, and water early in the second quarter. What are the kids supposed to drink? Beer? They were replenished at half-time. If you're not going to allow even drinks purchased from the vendors on the property at the Capital One End Zone in the stadium YOU SHOULD HAVE stocked enough inside to serve. It was hot! They also ran out of merchandise. Couldn''t buy the shirts we wanted, and that was BEFORE the game even started.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    stadium was unprepared!

    by Anonymous on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    They ran out of cups and ice by half time. Many angry fans. The game itself was fantastic and we enjoyed it, but there's really no excuse for running out of cups and ice midway through a major bowl game. Not sure I'd recommend attending a game at this stadium if they are not adequately prepared.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Great event

    by MrReed on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    The events before the game were great and there was plenty to keep you entertained before the game started.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    Fun even as a blow-out...but -

    by Dogwings on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    Even though my team left me greatly disappointed with their performance, college football is always fun. We have been attending the game for years and we enjoy the atmosphere that college sports brings to the Citrus Bowl. My disappointment this year really was not football related, it was connected to quality and services. The concessions near my seats (all 3) rain out of food and beverage choices before the end of the 2nd quarter - the only beverage available from that point to the end of the game was beer. I'm not a beer drinker (an the rest of my group fell into that same category), the concessions being void of cold beverages for more than half the game made for a long day in the hot Florida sun. Two in my party are seniors and they we very uncomfortable without drink options. My second disappointment was with the half time entertainment - college bands were great and the young cheerleaders always do a great job, but over all it was very boring and flat. We'll be back next year and hopefully have a better experience.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    blowout

    by tidefan23 on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    The game wasnt close, but access to the stadium, the weather, and other attractions made this a great destination

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    by Anonymous on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    All parking lots need garbage cans..............................

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Pretty nice venue

    by Chemstar on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    Overall, I think the Capital One Bowl was good. The stadium is a little small, but since tickets don't always sell out, that's not a real problem. A good thing about it being small: the area behind both end zones are open, and provide nice views. The best thing about this venue is that it's in Orlando. Yeah, that means a lot of traffic, but you also have your choice of great hotels and other fun things to do in the city! Capital One did provide bags at each seat that contained noise makers. The pregame and halftime festivities could use some improvement, but who goes to watch those anyway. I would go to the Capital One Bowl again without thinking twice. The only real complaint I have is that they should lower the price of parking--$30 is a little steep.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Capital One Bowl

    by Upnorth57 on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    The event was well organized and professionally done. Parking was good and getting to and from the stadium was easy. The people of Orlando know how to put on a good bowl game.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    Capital One Bowl

    by bamabandit2010 on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    The game it's self was great, the location of the stadium was easy to get to. the city did a great job with game traffic. but how do you sale 70,000 plus seats and not be prepaired for the crowd. Most venders was completely sold out of water during the second quarter, they had a very select, selection of coke products at the same time. Tons of beer to bad I could not give my child nothing to drink during halftime, he is not 21. Oh wait i could have gave him a monster drink. not the best drink for a child either. how do you claim to be a big time bowl game and you cant keep the consessions stands full of product.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    Decent event.

    by cgimovieman on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    The Capital One Bowl was a pretty decent event. Shuttles from near the Amway Center were great. Highly recommend this continues for other events, although there was a little bit of a back up loading afterward. My favorite part of the event honestly was the flyover of the two jets after the national anthem. VERY neat! First time I've ever seen that, and being near the top of the bowl it felt like you could reach out and touch them. Food stations could be better. I realize it's a sporting event, but it would have been nice to have some higher quality foods, more variety, and a few healthier options too. Having nothing but burgers, cheesesteaks, hotdogs, and two kinds of average beer was pretty limiting. Overall I'd recommend the event, but improvements could definitely be made.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    lots of fun

    by Floridia on 1/3/11Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando

    The atmosphere was great, much more fun than sitting at home