The college football bowl season is important to Alabama, even when the state’s two biggest teams don’t pull out victories in New Year’s Day games. When it comes to economic impact and a chance to showcase three of the state’s largest cities, bowl games within Alabama carry heavy significance.

The games in Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery were expected to generate millions of dollars in economic impact and draw thousands of visitors, extending Alabama’s love affair with football to schools that don’t call the state home.

On Dec. 20, the capital city of Montgomery and its inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl shared the spotlight. Bowling Green State University defeated the University of South Alabama 33-28 in what many described as the most exciting contest of the early bowl season. (Cramton Bowl)

As with any bowl game, the contests in Alabama reward the participants, giving players and coaches additional practice time and national exposure, as well as a chance to end the season with a win. The state and host cities are also rewarded with a chance to shine during the added media attention.

On Dec. 20, the capital city of Montgomery and its inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl shared the spotlight. Bowling Green State University defeated the University of South Alabama 33-28 in what many described as the most exciting contest of the early bowl season.

On Jan. 3, 2015, the Magic City took center stage as the Birmingham Bowl hosted the University of Florida and East Carolina University in the country’s only bowl game that day.

On Jan. 3, 2015, the Magic City took center stage as the Birmingham Bowl hosted the University of Florida and East Carolina University in the country’s only bowl game that day. (Legion Field)

The next day, Jan. 4, 2015, Mobile hosted the only bowl game in the U.S., when the GoDaddy Bowl pit Arkansas State University against the University of Toledo.

Mobile closes out the college football season with the Senior Bowl, where graduating players from throughout the country play for fans and NFL scouts on Jan. 24, 2015.

A view of players on the field in the 2015 Camellia Bowl in Montgomery’s Crampton Bowl.

Danny Corte, executive director of the Mobile Sports Authority, said it’s hard to overstate the importance bowl games have on a community.

“The main thing for us as a city is the economic impact and the national exposure,” Corte said. “In terms of what these games mean to the positive publicity for our state and community, it’s hard to put a value on the amount of attention they generate. For the Senior Bowl, we are NFL Central for the day.”

Corte said the hope is that teams and fans visiting from North Carolina, Arkansas and other states not only have a pleasurable experience at the game, but also leave with a favorable opinion about the Mobile area and its hotels, restaurants and night life. The same is true for the image the games leave with TV audiences.

Corte said these showcase events for the state wouldn’t be possible without community support and sponsorships, including title sponsors. Alabama Power sponsors all four of the bowl games in the state.

Birmingham Bowl 2014

“Alabama Power has been involved from the very beginning when the GoDaddy Bowl was still known as the Mobile Bowl. If we didn’t have sponsors, quite frankly, we wouldn’t have the bowls.”

Zeke Smith, executive vice president of External Affairs at Alabama Power, said the company recognizes the importance of the bowls to the communities and the economy.

“These bowl games provide millions of dollars in economic impact for the Alabama communities that host them,” Smith said. “That’s in addition to what they mean to the schools, coaches and players who participate, and to the fans who visit our state and return home with a positive image of Alabama. We are happy to play a part in making these bowl games possible for all who benefit from them.”

— Mike Tomberlin