Hiram Bithorn Stadium to host first NCAA college football game in Puerto Rico
San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium will be transformed to host the TransPerfect San Juan Bowl on Dec. 16 featuring teams from the ACC and Sun Belt Conference.
PhotoThe short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero said the stadium has been preparing for over a year to host the first NCAA postseason game in Puerto Rico
- El Nuevo Día reported the game will be held on Dec. 16 between teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Sun Belt Conference with participants to be determined after the regular season
- El Nuevo Día reported the city has invested about $37 million in recent years on improvements to the Hiram Bithorn and surrounding facilities
- El Nuevo Día reported that neither the municipality nor the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce has an estimate yet of the expected economic impact
First college football bowl game in Puerto Rico
The Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan will host the TransPerfect San Juan Bowl on Dec. 16, marking the first time a NCAA Division I college football postseason game is played in Puerto Rico. El Nuevo Día reported that the matchup will feature teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Sun Belt Conference. The specific teams have not been selected as they will depend on the outcomes of the regular season, which concludes in early December.
According to Metro Puerto Rico, Mayor Miguel Romero stated on Friday that the stadium is prepared to be transformed into an American football field. He said technical personnel visited the venue over the past year to evaluate the facilities, locker rooms, field conditions and San Juan's hotel capacity.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
“El TransPerfect San Juan Bowl pondrá a San Juan y a todo Puerto Rico en el foco nacional, mostrando la historia, la cultura y los atractivos que hacen de nuestra capital un destino tan especial”.
Our translation: “The TransPerfect San Juan Bowl will put San Juan and all of Puerto Rico in the national spotlight, showing the history, culture and attractions that make our capital such a special destination.”
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Nuevo Día. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
“Puerto Rico cuenta con una gran tradición de excelencia atlética que incluye el béisbol, el baloncesto, el boxeo y mucho más. Con el TransPerfect San Juan Bowl, nos entusiasma añadir el football americano universitario a esa lista, y esperamos crear una experiencia memorable para los estudiantes atletas, los fanáticos y los invitados”.
Our translation: “Puerto Rico has a great tradition of athletic excellence that includes baseball, basketball, boxing and much more. With the TransPerfect San Juan Bowl, we are excited to add college American football to that list, and we hope to create a memorable experience for the student athletes, the fans and the guests.”
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Nuevo Día. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Investment and expected benefits
El Nuevo Día reported that the city of San Juan has invested about $37 million in recent years on improvements to the Hiram Bithorn complex and the Roberto Clemente Coliseum among other facilities. The mayor noted that 149,000 people visited the venue during the first round of the World Baseball Classic hosted by San Juan in March. Romero told reporters that the investments will allow the field to be adapted for football without affecting its regular use for baseball.
Both the municipality and the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce have not yet produced an estimate of the economic impact the event is expected to generate. El Nuevo Día reported that officials expect the game to bring thousands of fans, benefiting hotels, restaurants, local businesses and workers during the Christmas season.
Where the sources differ
Both Metro Puerto Rico and El Nuevo Día agree that the Hiram Bithorn Stadium will host the TransPerfect San Juan Bowl on Dec. 16 between ACC and Sun Belt teams and that Mayor Miguel Romero highlighted more than a year of preparation and recent investments in the venue. El Nuevo Día provided additional details including the $37 million investment figure, attendance numbers from the World Baseball Classic, quotes from Romero, Phil Shawe of TransPerfect, and the commissioners of the ACC and Sun Belt. Metro Puerto Rico focused more on the technical evaluations and Romero's statements about the stadium's adaptability for multiple events. The sources do not conflict on any facts reported.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not specify the exact cost of transforming the field for football or detail the specific regulatory requirements that must be met. They also do not name the expected number of visitors or fans for the game, provide any projected economic impact figures, or indicate what security or logistical measures will be taken. The identities of the participating teams remain unknown and will not be determined until after the college football regular season concludes.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official El Hiram Bithorn se transforma para recibir fútbol americano
- Reporting El Hiram Bithorn se transforma para recibir fútbol americano
- Reporting El Hiram Bithorn cambia los jonrones por touchdowns con la llegada del fútbol americano de la NCAA
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico and El Nuevo Día both reported on Mayor Miguel Romero's statements about preparations for the NCAA game at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. El Nuevo Día is the sole source for the $37 million investment figure, the 149,000 visitors statistic, and the quotes from Phil Shawe and the conference commissioners.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.