By Erik Evenson, Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Director of Communications
The 50th playing of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl will be in primetime, as the milestone game is set for Tuesday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.
“We are excited to welcome fans from across the region back to Shreveport-Bossier on December 22 for another outstanding Independence Bowl experience,” said Keith Burton, 2026 Chairman of the Independence Bowl Foundation. “This year’s game carries special significance as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Independence Bowl, a proud milestone for one of our community’s most enduring traditions. For five decades, this event has brought people together through college football, hospitality, and the distinct spirit of a Louisiana bowl game. A 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN gives us a tremendous opportunity to showcase our region on a national stage and celebrate what makes this game so special.”
This is the third primetime kickoff for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in the past four years, following 2023 and 2024. It is the first pre-Christmas Independence Bowl since 2023, when Texas Tech defeated California in front of a crowd of 33,071.
The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl continues to have a profound impact on the Shreveport-Bossier community each year, driving revenue and overall economic impact to the area. Averaging the last three games, the bowl has accounted for an average of direct and indirect spending of $7.3 million in the local community and an average total economic impact of approximately $23.4 million.
The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl has topped 30,000 in paid attendance the last three editions of the game – averaging a paid attendance of 32,551 the last three years. It is the first time since 2015 that the bowl has seen three consecutive years of paid attendance over 30,000 fans.
Ticket renewals have been mailed to fans who have bought Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl tickets in the past. The renewal deadline for fans who would like to secure their same seat locations is Friday, July 31. Fans who renew their tickets and add at least an additional $140 in tickets will receive a commemorative 50th anniversary Independence Bowl coin.
Tickets will go on sale to the public on August 1 and will be available at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/tickets. Individual tickets will start at $20, and there will also be group tickets, Small Business Fan Packs, Pizza Hut Family 4-Packs and other ticket packages available. For ticketing questions, fans can call the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at (318) 221-0712 or toll-free at (888) 414-BOWL.
For information on Independence Stadium rules and the clear bag policy, please visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/stadium-rules. Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl fans can visit OpportunityLouisiana.gov to explore why Louisiana businesses are positioned to win.
On the Docket – 15th Annual Youth Football Clinic
A summer staple on the Independence Bowl Foundation’s slate of year-round community events, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Youth Football Clinic returns to Independence Stadium for its 15th edition on Saturday, June 6 from 8-11 a.m.
The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Youth Football Clinic is a free, non-contact clinic and is open to boys and girls ages five through 13 (incoming eighth graders). Registration for the clinic is limited to the first 400 registrants, so parents are encouraged to register their children for the clinic in advance at IndependenceBowl.org/youth-football-clinic.
Each year, campers receive instruction from regional college football coaches and staffers. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. on the day of the event in the southwest entrance of the stadium. A parent or guardian must complete a waiver for their child upon check-in at the clinic on the morning of the event for the child to participate.
Parents can contact Jennifer Rider, Director of Events and Operations at Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, at [email protected]with any questions about the clinic.