Bowl game slated for Allegiant nixed

The Las Vegas Bowl will have to wait another year to showcase its new home in Allegiant Stadium. The game’s 2020 edition was officially canceled Wednesday because of concerns about COVID-19, according to ESPN Events, which owns the event.

“We think we’re making the right decision, especially with it being basically a brand new bowl game,” Las Vegas Bowl executive director John Saccenti said. “Not having fans and not being able to bring people to Las Vegas, it’s not the way we wanted to kick things off.”

The decision comes in light of Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s directive last

month that ordered a statewide pause and reduced gathering sizes.

The Las Vegas Bowl had been played every year since 1992. Washington defeated Boise State 38-7 last year in the final Las Vegas Bowl played at Sam Boyd Stadium, the game’s home since its inception.

The Pac-12 has been one of the

bowl’s primary partners and has had a team in the game every year but one since 2000.

“The Pac-12 is disappointed for our teams and fans that the Las Vegas Bowl has been forced to cancel this year’s game,” Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement.

Next year’s game is scheduled to match teams from the Pac-12 and Big Ten. Saccenti said it’s unlikely that will change, meaning the bowl

will have to wait two more years to host a team from the SEC, the third conference with a tie-in to the game.

“We have no doubt the Las Vegas Bowl will be a great part of the future SEC bowl lineup,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said.

The Las Vegas Bowl is one of nine that have been canceled this year.