SCOTTSDALE, AZ (December 18, 2025) – To celebrate hosting the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the Fiesta Sports Foundation is raising the bar for championship-caliber entertainment, announcing a dynamic lineup of pregame performances, highlighted by a Fan Fest performance by Arizona native and acclaimed country music superstar Dierks Bentley on the Vrbo Sound Stage. All the action takes place on Thursday, January 8, starting at 12:30 p.m. outside State Farm Stadium.
 
The multi-platinum singer/songwriter will take the spotlight on the first-ever Vrbo Sound Stage for a multi-song extended set that is accessible by guests attending Fan Fest and Club '71. Bentley is one of country music's most celebrated performers, with eight No. 1 albums, more than 20 No. 1 singles, more than 9.5 billion streams and multiple awards show trophies, including the Country Music Association Awards and Academy of Country Music Awards.  With deep ties to the Valley of the Sun, Bentley has embraced the local community through his businesses, philanthropy and love of live sports and music.
 
"It's always a great time playing in Arizona and there's nothing like the energy around college football," said Bentley. "We're looking forward to being part of the Fiesta Bowl and will have a blast getting the party started!"
                                                                                                 
Fans will want to be in the stadium early as GRAMMY®-nominated husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty will perform a showstopping rendition of the National Anthem. Celebrated for their powerful live performances, soul-stirring vocals and genre-defying sound, The War and Treaty made history as the first Black duo to be nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Duo of the Year – an honor they have received three years in a row. Vocalist Michael Trotter, Jr., a two-tour war veteran, and wife Tanya are set to deliver a moving moment ahead of kickoff.
 
Enhancing the overall pregame entertainment experience, Fiesta Sports Foundation is teaming up with Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE), one of the entertainment industry's leading live-event production companies. JCE is recognized for producing some of the world's most iconic live broadcasts, including the Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, American Music Awards and multiple Super Bowl Halftime Shows. With an extensive portfolio of award-winning live events and impactful programming, JCE brings industry expertise, creativity and production excellence to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl to enhance the game day pageantry.
 
"Hosting a College Football Playoff Semifinal demands that we go big on and off the field – creating memorable experiences for our fans," said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "Teaming with Jesse Collins Entertainment allows us to take our pregame presentation to the next level. We are excited for our fans to enjoy a country music superstar in Arizona's own Dierks Bentley headlining the stage at Fan Fest, rising stars The War and Treaty delivering a powerful national anthem followed by what is sure to be one of the best college football games of the season at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Fans should take the afternoon to come out early as we deliver a pregame experience that matches the moment and the magnitude of the game on the field."
 
The Vrbo Sound Stage will be the centerpiece of Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Fan Fest, which features live music, interactive games, sponsor activations, food and beverage offerings and family-friendly entertainment leading up to kickoff. For those seeking a premium game-day experience, Club '71 offers exclusive access, upscale hospitality and preferred seating for the Vrbo Sound Stage to enjoy the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in elevated style.
 
The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will once again serve as a College Football Playoff Semifinal, following two classic, down-to-the-wire showdowns in the previous two CFP Semifinals at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. A matchup that will determine who plays in the CFP National Championship Game, the game features the winner of the CFP Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl and CFP Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. With a long history of memorable moments on the field and a renewed bold, entertainment-driven experience off it, the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl continues to deliver a world-class celebration of college football in the heart of Arizona.
 
For more information on Fan Fest, Club '71, and the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, visit FiestaBowl.org.
 
ABOUT THE FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION
Since 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation 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 presented by Lerner & Rowe, 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 Vrbo
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