Holiday Bowl reportedly suing UCLA, Pac-12 over damages from missed bowl game
The Holiday Bowl is suing UCLA and the Pac-12 for more than $3 million in damages, according to a report.
Per the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, the lawsuit dates back to the 2021 Holiday Bowl when the Bruins backed out of the game just hours before kickoff due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Because the 2021 bowl game between UCLA and NC State was not played, the bowl had to refund its revenue from ticket sales, sponsorship deals and media rights agreements.
According to the report, the Pac-12 has refused to reimburse the San Diego Bowl Game Association — a non-profit that operates the Holiday Bowl — for the Bruins’ last-minute exit from the game.
The complaint was filed in the Superior Court of San Diego County on Tuesday, per McMurphy.
UCLA officially backed out of the game at 12:33 p.m. PT on the day of the game. Kickoff was set for 5 p.m. PT that evening.
The Holiday Bowl has been played annually since 1978. A Pac-12 program has been featured in the bowl in 23 consecutive games — a streak that dates back to 1998.