The inaugural New Mexico Bowl was played Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006 as the San Jose State Spartans held off the New Mexico Lobos 20-12 in an ESPN-televised contest at University Stadium. Over 34,000 fans converged at University Stadium to witness the first major bowl game in the state of New Mexico. The game annually features teams from the Mountain West Conference and Western Athletic Conference.

ESPN Regional Television is responsible for the New Mexico Bowl's organization, operation, sponsorship, marketing efforts and more. Under the direction of ESPN Regional Television, the University of New Mexico provides marketing, management and game day operations support for the New Mexico Bowl.

"We are very pleased to bring a bowl game to the great college sports fans of New Mexico and provide national exposure to the participating conferences, the state of New Mexico and the University of New Mexico," senior vice president and general manager of ESPN Regional Television Peter Derzis said. "Albuquerque is a fast growing travel destination and a terrific foundation for this exciting new venture."

"This Bowl Game in Albuquerque is a perfect fit for New Mexico, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said. "This is a state that loves college sports and I feel the community will get behind the game and make it a success. Because of the efforts of ESPN, the Sports Authority, the City of Albuquerque and the University of New Mexico, we were able to get this done faster than anyone ever expected. The Bowl will give us another opportunity to showcase New Mexico."

The game trophy is 20-inch piece of Zia Pueblo pottery, painted with Pueblo symbols, the New Mexico Bowl logo, and football players. Zia Pueblo is an Indian tribe from New Mexico. The Zia symbol, a Zia Pueblo symbol that is used in the state flag, is incorporated into the bowl game logo. The most valuable player trophies are crafted from traditional leather shields.

Tickets for the New Mexico Bowl are $30. They are $15 for UNM students. Tickets are available online at newmexicombowl.com and www.unmtickets.com, by calling (505) 925-5858 and at the UNM ticket office at The Pit.

A visit to Albuquerque allows you to experience the authentic Southwest. One of the oldest cities in the U.S., Albuquerque boasts a unique multicultural heritage and history where Native American, Hispanic & Latino, Anglo and other cultural influences are a part of everyday life. You'll always feel you're someplace special when you're eating at one of our traditional New Mexican restaurants, shopping at one of our more than 3,000 shops and galleries, or enjoying our world-class visual and performing arts. Nowhere is the confluence of past and present more dramatic than here in Albuquerque, where the modern city skyline is set against a backdrop of the ancient Sandia Mountains and an endless, timeless blue sky.

Spectacular weather, with 310 days of sunshine, makes Albuquerque an ideal destination for outdoor activities, including golfing, biking and skiing. Our unique weather features also make Albuquerque the hot air ballooning capital of the world. Balloons dot our clear blue skies almost every morning, revealing a myriad of colors year-round. At night, the city is bathed in the glow of neon signs, relics of Albuquerque's place on historic Route 66. Locals and visitors kick up their heels in our bustling downtown entertainment district, go out for a night of entertainment by one of our international theater and dance companies, or visit one of the many casinos surrounding the metropolitan area.

Come experience the spectacular culture, abundance of activities and breathtaking landscape that are uniquely Albuquerque!

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