2017 Outback Bowl Events: What To Know Before You Go

TAMPA, FL -- While most people celebrate the new year for one night, the Tampa Bay area makes it a weeklong party thanks to the annual Outback Bowl.

Although the 2017 Outback Bowl will be a day later than its New Year’s Day traditional time slot, there will still be a week of parties and pageantry to welcome the Florida Gators and the Iowa Hawkeyes to town.

Here’s what fans and local residents need to know before you go to the 2017 Outback Bowl Events that are open to the public:

Players Night at Splitsville

Before they hit the gridiron, players from the Gators and Hawkeyes will meet in the alleys of Splitsville on Tuesday, Dec. 27 in the Channelside District, 615 Channelside Drive in Tampa. Fans can join the teams as they participate in an evening of fun and games. Splitsville will be open to the teams only from 6 to 7:15 p.m. The doors open to the public at 7:15.

Busch Gardens Team Outing

The Gators and the Hawkeyes will head to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 10165 N. McKinley Drive in Tampa, to enjoy the theme park on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The event is open to the public, but general admission tickets are required to attend. For tickets and more information, visit https://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa/.

Team Night with the Tampa Bay Lightning

The next sports-themed night for the Gators and Hawkeyes before the 2017 Outback Bowl will be to attend the Thursday, Dec. 29 Tampa Bay Lightning game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive in Tampa. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (813) 301-6600 or visit https://www.nhl.com/lightning.

Clearwater Beach Day

The Tampa Bay area’s white sand beaches will create the backdrop for the 2017 Outback Bowl Clearwater Beach Day on Friday, Dec. 30. Florida’s and Iowa’s football teams, cheerleaders and marching bands will appear at the event on the beach at the Hilton Clearwater Beach, 400 Mandalay Ave., next to Pier 60. Activities include live music, skydivers, a tug-of-war and other contests from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are invited to stay to watch the spectacular sunset at 5:46 p.m. at Pier 60.

Outback Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade

Celebrate the New Year and college football with the 2017 Outback Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade and pep rally on Saturday, Dec. 31 starting at 5:30 p.m. along Seventh Avenue in Ybor City, which neighbors downtown Tampa. The parade will feature about 20 marching bands, including both the Gators’ and Hawkeyes’ marching bands. The pep rally will feature a battle of the bands and cheerleaders from the two universities. No coolers, glass containers or open alcohol are allowed on the streets.

Tampa New Year’s Eve Celebrations

After the 2017 Outback Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade, fans in town for the game have two options to ring in the New Year in downtown Tampa on Saturday, Dec. 31:

• The Florida Aquarium New Year’s Aqua Eve – The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, will host its New Year’s Aqua Eve from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event features complimentary food, beer and wine along with a champagne toast with a great view of Tampa’s fireworks display at midnight. The event is restricted to ages 21 and older. General admission is $120 if purchased before Monday, Dec. 26 and $130 if purchased from Dec. 26-31. Early admission, beginning at 8 p.m., is $140 before Dec. 26 and $150 the week of the event. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.flaquarium.org/.
• Light Up Tampa Bay – Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive, will host the city’s largest New Year’s Eve party, Light Up Tampa Bay New Year’s Eve Celebration and Block Party. This free public event starts at 7 p.m. and features a custom ball drop, a fireworks display, two stages, LED televisions, entertainment, local vendors with a variety of food and drinks. The event also doubles as a Tampa Bay Lightning watch party, as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh. This is a standing-room only event with chairs and blankets permitted for the Tampa Bay Lightning watch party with limited space. There will also be 3,500 wristbands available for waterfront access with first come, first serve. No glass, seating, chairs or blankets are permitted inside the Channelside Bay Plaza or on the waterfront. Seating is limited to a specific area on a first come, first serve basis.

Fan Rally at Channelside

With the 2017 Outback Bowl moved to Monday, Jan. 2 this year to accommodate the NFL schedule on Sunday, there will be plenty of New Year’s Day entertainment for fans to enjoy. The 2017 Outback Bowl Fan Rally will take place on Sunday, Jan. 1 from noon to 6 p.m. at Channelside Bay Plaza. Show your team spirit by taking part in a variety of on-site entertainment. Many of Channelside Bay Plaza’s restaurants and bars will be open for the event.

Lowry Park Zoo Tailgate

In conjunction with the 2017 Outback Bowl, Lowry Park Zoo is hosting Tilgate Days on Sunday, Jan. 1 and Sunday, Jan. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The events include interactive games, tailgate food and drinks, animal mingles and sponsor activities. The discounted tickets must be purchased in advance or patrons must wear Florida or Iowa team colors to the Zoo. For more information, visit http://tlpz.org/tailgate.

Outback Bowl Field Show

Watch the best of the best of high school marching bands during the 2017 Outback Bowl Field Show Festival on Sunday, Jan. 1 at 6 p.m. at Jefferson High School, 4401 W. Cypress St. in Tampa. This free event will feature elite high school bands from across the country, with the winning band earning a spot in the Outback Bowl pregame show the next day. For more information, visit http://www.brightsparktravel.com/student-tours/outback-bowl-tampa-performance-event.

Pregame Bowl Bash

The 2017 Outback Bowl will begin with the annual Pregame Bowl Bash outside of Raymond James Stadium on Monday, Jan. 2 at 10 a.m. The event will feature live music, a pep rally, various displays from Busch Gardens, GEICO, Florida Blue, the U.S. Airforce, Outback Steakhouse and more. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

For more information, visit http://www.outbackbowl.com/.

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