The East-West Shrine Bowl is coming to Frisco.
Dallas Cowboys executives and representatives of the Shriners Children’s healthcare system announced the move at the Star on Monday.
“We’re thrilled to work with the Dallas Cowboys to host this game at the Ford Center at The Star and carry on the tradition of impacting lives beyond the football field,” CEO of Shriners Children’s, Kenny Craven, said in a press release.
“The East-West Shrine Bowl helps raise the profile of Shriners Children’s and the amazing care provided to children around the world.”
The East-West Shrine Bowl is college football’s longest-running all-star game and has been played since 1925 as a way to promote NFL Draft prospects and give them increased opportunities to display their talents and get to know NFL coaching staffs.
The game had also been used to promote children’s health and give coaches from around the league chances to take on other roles, deciding to include entire staffs from NFL teams last year with the head coach taking more of a consulting role as the team is led by an up-and-coming coach from the staff.
About 130 players participate in the game each year, representing colleges across the country.
Past alums include Shannon Sharpe, Tom Brady, Roger Staubach, Walter Payton, Lawrence Taylor, and many more.
The first game was played in San Francisco, and other host cities have included St. Petersburg, Florida; Las Vegas, New Orleans, and many others.
“In the past, we’ve played this ballgame in a baseball stadium, or we’ve played it in another facility, but it was never really a partner switch any type of NFL partnership,” Craven told the media on Monday. “By bringing it here, it just takes it to a different level. You have an opportunity to bring it to a nice city that has a lot of fanbase, a football fanbase, but most importantly, to be a part of the Cowboys’ stadium here and be a part of their facilities takes our game to the next level.”
“We had a great run in Vegas,” Bob Roller, vice president of sports for Shriners Hospital for Children, added as he spoke with the media. “We had a great run in Florida when we were there, but we feel like we found a new home.”
Three of the Cowboys’ eight draft picks in April played in the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.
“It is a tremendous honor to host the East-West Shrine Bowl at the Ford Center at The Star next February,” Stephen Jones, chief operating officer, executive vice president, and director of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, said in the press release. “The game is a fixture in college football. We look forward to bringing the best college football players in the country to Frisco in the spirit of helping Shriners Children’s care for young patients around the world.”
The 99th edition of the East-West Shrine Game will be played on February 1, 2024, at the Ford Center at the Star.
