A. Stacy Long

Montgomery Advertiser

The Raycom Media Camellia Bowl isn't until Saturday, but Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange has already named a winner.

Strange says the big winner is the city of Montgomery, which will receive anywhere from a $5 million-$10 million economic impact because of the bowl game.

It's the sort of outcome for which the city had hoped when it approved $10 million in renovations to Cramton Bowl in 2010. The revamped facility opened in 2011. New turf was installed this summer.

As for the other potential winners, the University of South Alabama Jaguars (6-6) arrive today, with the Bowling Green State University Falcons (7-6) due in town Wednesday.

And Montgomery County Commissioner Elton Dean says while the game is in Montgomery, there are enough events and activities planned for the teams so that the city and county hope both teams will feel like they are playing on their home fields.

"We're going to do everything possible to make you feel like you're playing in your own stadium," Dean told both head coaches last week.

"You'll have the advantage of saying, 'This is my home field, Cramton Bowl.'<TH>"

Strange said there has been so much preparation for these activities that he initially felt overwhelmed, but that all the work has been more than worth it for the city.

"I don't know if I knew what we were getting into," Strange said. "All I could hear was cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching, but it's worth every cent.

"You certainly cannot buy the exposure that we're going to get at 8:15 Saturday night when the cameras come up and the world will be watching Montgomery, Alabama."

The teams won't just get national TV exposure, but a lot of exposure to Southern cooking.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce will host Bowling Green on Wednesday and South Alabama on Thursday at the Union Station Train Shed.

The Alabama Cattlemen's Association, Alabama Gulf Seafood and MAX Credit Union will have USA on Wednesday and BGSU on Thursday at Alley Station.

The teams will also have plenty of other activities.

On Thursday, either before or after practice, both teams will tour the Rosa Parks Museum. On Friday morning, they are set to visit the Central Alabama Veterans Hospital, a trip sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.

There's a team luncheon Friday that is open to the public. Bobby Bowden, the legendary former Florida State coach who is a native Alabamian, will receive the inaugural Alabama Football Legend Award, presented by Regions Bank. Tickets are available at the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl's website, camelliabowl.com.

After that luncheon the teams will finish practice and rest for the game, but the fun for fans is just getting started.

Beginning at 3 p.m., downtown near the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa, the Montgomery Advertiser Street Fest & Pep Rally, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, will kick off.

The street fest includes pep rallies for both teams. Bowling Green's pep rally begins at 5 p.m.; South Alabama's is at 5:30. There's also a 6 p.m. fireworks show presented by MAX Credit Union.

Meanwhile, the annual Montgomery Christmas parade will begin at 6:15 near the state Capitol and move down Dexter Avenue, ending at the fountain at Commerce Street.

The street fair activities will continue in full force after the parade.

There's also entertainment Saturday at Paterson Field before the game.

The Winn-Dixie Fan Fest presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and Outback Steakhouse starts at 4 p.m. It includes alumni tents, a live band, a massive HD screen to watch the other bowl games that day and games for kids.

There's another Bowling Green pep rally at 5 p.m. and a South Alabama pep rally at 5:30 before Cramton Bowl's gates open at 6.

"We are doing everything that we know (how) to do," Strange said. "There may be a thing or two that we don't know to do and we'll learn about that."

Cramton Bowl has been host to its share of big events, including the Kelly Tires Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic, which was last played there in 2001.

The al.com Champions Challenge, a preseason event of the AHSAA's, was there from 2006-13 and the AHSAA had its Champions Challenge there this season. It also hosts the AISA All-Star Game each December.

The Raycom All-Star Classic made its only appearance at Cramton Bowl in January 2013. Officials announced plans for the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in the summer of 2013.

The Raycom Media Camellia Bowl is the third bowl game that will be played in Alabama this season.

Mobile has hosted an annual game since December 1999: the Mobile Alabama Bowl (1999), the GMAC Bowl (2000-10) and the GoDaddy.com Bowl (2011-today).

The inaugural Birmingham Bowl will be played in January, though Birmingham hosted the PapaJohns.com Bowl from 2006-10 and the BBVA Compass Bowl from 2011-14.

Birmingham also hosted a bowl from 1977-1990: the Hall of Fame Classic and All-American Bowl.

RAYCOM MEDIA CAMELLIA BOWL EVENTS

FRIDAY

Noon: Team luncheon at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center where Bobby Bowden will receive the Alabama Football Legend Award, presented by Regions Bank.

3 p.m.:Montgomery Advertiser Street Fest & Pep Rally, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, begins downtown near the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center.

5 p.m.: Bowling Green pep rally.

5:30 p.m.: South Alabama pep rally.

6 p.m.: Fireworks presented by MAX Credit Union.

6:15 p.m.: Montgomery Christmas parade.

SATURDAY

4 p.m.: Winn-Dixie Fan Fest presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and Outback Streakhouse, begins at Paterson Field.

5 p.m.: Bowling Green pep rally.

5:30 p.m.: South Alabama pep rally.

6 p.m.: Cramton Bowl gates open.

8:15 p.m. (or so): Kickoff.

INFORMATION: camelliabowl.com