A 30-year tradition will end in December when the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl is not shown on ESPN.

Bowl officials announced Thursday that the 2017 game — the 40th in bowl history — will be televised by Fox Sports 1, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. on Dec. 28.

ESPN last month revealed its bowl schedule and the Holiday Bowl was not included. At the time, officials from both organizations said they were continuing to negotiate. The Holiday Bowl was the longest-running partner in network history, but the contract expired after the 2016 game between Minnesota and Washington State.

The only available date on ESPN’s schedule appeared to be Dec. 26, but the Holiday has not been played that early since it switched to a post-Christmas date in 1986. ESPN has the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio slated at the same time the Holiday will be played.


“We are so proud and excited to announce this new partnership, and grateful to the team at Fox Sports for their enthusiasm and support of the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl,” Mark Neville, executive director of the bowl game, said in a statement. “Fox Sports is the ideal platform for our bowl game, and will most certainly be the broadcast home to many memorable games and down-to-the-wire finishes. As we prepare for our 40th anniversary game this December and thanks to Fox Sports, we can look forward to a very bright future.”

“We have enjoyed a long history with the Holiday Bowl. While the game will not air on ESPN, we wish their bowl committee nothing but success,” ESPN spokesman Derek Volner said.

Wasserman Media Group consulted with the SDCCU Holiday Bowl on the arrangement, the bowl said.

“We are thrilled to add the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl to what already is our best-ever college football schedule,” said Larry Jones, executive vice president, business at Fox Sports. “The Holiday Bowl is annually one of the most entertaining games of the season, and we look forward to once again having the opportunity to showcase two of the top teams from two of the nation’s premier conferences.”


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jay.posner@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutposner