SCOTTSDALE, AZ and CHICAGO (October 17, 2024) – In line with the rebrand of financial services and mortgage lending leader Guaranteed Rate to simply "Rate," the newly-named Rate Bowl will kick off on Thursday, December 26, at 3:30 p.m. in downtown Phoenix.
 
The Rate Bowl, the only postseason matchup between members of the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences, will be broadcast live on ESPN's linear television and digital platforms.
 
As the nation's second-leading retail mortgage lender, Rate leads the industry in mortgage lending and digital financial services. The name change emphasizes Rate's focus on innovation, simplicity and a frictionless customer experience in the fintech and mortgage spaces. In 2023, NerdWallet awarded Rate "Best Mortgage Lender for First Time Homebuyers."
 
"College football represents determination, teamwork, and success—values we embody at Rate," said Victor Ciardelli, CEO of Rate. "The Rate Bowl underscores our commitment to delivering excellence and pushing boundaries, just as these teams do on the field."
 
Returning to downtown Phoenix for the ninth consecutive season, the Rate Bowl transforms a Major League Baseball park into a football field, providing one of college football's most unique postseason experiences. Following the game, the 75,000-plus square-foot natural grass playing field is donated to an Arizona community in need. In 2023, the field was donated to Fighter Country Foundation at Luke Air Force Base, marking the ninth football field donation by Fiesta Bowl Charities, with previous fields re-planted in Phoenix, Maryvale, Avondale, Laveen, Glendale, Bullhead City and Fort Mohave.
 
"The power of college football delivers a highly visible sports property that engages audiences like few other cultural phenomena," said Executive Director & CEO of the Rate Bowl Erik Moses. "That impact goes even deeper during Bowl Season and partnering with a national brand like Rate elevates our game, enabling us to tell Rate's story and showcase the journey for the schools, student-athletes who play in the Rate Bowl and fans that follow their favorite teams."
 
In addition to naming rights, Rate's fully-integrated partnership includes digital and social media campaigns, in-stadium exposure, on-site activations and television advertisements in the exclusive live broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Radio.
 
Fast Facts about the Rate Bowl:

• 2024 will be the 35th annual game in bowl history
• The Rate Bowl is Bowl Season's only Big Ten-Big 12 matchup
• The Rate Bowl became the first bowl to be regularly played at an MLB ballpark when it was staged in downtown Phoenix in 2000
• An MLB ballpark turns into a football field for the game (Watch field transformation)
• 2024 will be the 15th game played at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix
• The 75,000-plus square feet of game turf is donated to a community in need for a playing field
• The 2023 installment was Bowl Season's highest-scoring game (85) last season
• The Big Ten and Big 12 conferences faced each other eight times from 2006-13 before the revival of bowl matchup in 2021
• The Big 12 has won six of the 10 bowl matchups between the conferences
• The bowl's three highest-attended games featured Big Ten vs. Big 12 pairings
• A bowl record 54,247 fans attended the 2011 matchup Iowa and Oklahoma
• The Big 12 Conference has 22 appearances in the game's 34-year history, with the most appearances and victories (15) of any conference
• The Big Ten is third with 14 appearances, holding a 6-8 all-time record
• Kansas State (Big 12) and Minnesota (Big Ten) lead all schools with four appearances each
• Notable alumni of the Rate Bowl include Larry Fitzgerald, Aaron Rodgers, Le'Veon Bell, Drew Bledsoe and Ron Dayne

ABOUT THE FIESTA BOWL ORGANIZATION
Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education.
 
ABOUT RATE
Rate is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate is the #2 retail mortgage lender in the U.S., with over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service. Honors and awards include Best Mortgage Lender for First-Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet for 2023; HousingWire's Tech100 award for the company's industry-leading FlashClose? digital mortgage platform in 2020, MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; No. 2 ranking in Scotsman Guide's 2022 list of Top Retail Mortgage Lenders; the most Scotsman Guide Top Originators for 11 consecutive years; Chicago Agent Magazine's Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces list for seven straight years. Visit rate.com for more information.

Media Contacts:
Scott Leightman
Rate Bowl
480.517.6291
sleightman@fiestabowl.org
 
Kendall Allen Rockwell
Rate
kendall@broadsheetcomms.com