Dear Mobile Chamber Members,

This year marks the 27th year that Mobile has proudly hosted the 68 Ventures Bowl, a nationally televised college football game, and we need your support.

On Wednesday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m., Hancock Whitney Stadium will host the 68 Ventures Bowl, broadcast live on ESPN to a national audience. This is not simply a football game; it’s Mobile’s moment to shine in front of millions of viewers across the country.

The 68 Ventures Bowl showcases our city’s hospitality, our vibrant community spirit and our capability to host premier sporting events.

Since 1999, this bowl game has brought national attention to Mobile, attracted thousands of visitors to our region, generated significant economic impact for local businesses, and created countless memories for players, fans and our community.

The game has featured future NFL stars and produced some of college football’s most memorable moments, including the highest-scoring bowl game in history.

More Than Just Game Day

The 68 Ventures Bowl is a week-long celebration of our city. The festivities include:

• Greer’s/This is Alabama Mardi Gras Parade on December 16; Mobile’s largest Mardi Gras parade will feature Mobile’s unique Mardi Gras heritage with floats from 20 mystic societies.
• Team welcome receptions and community service projects
• Educational tours highlighting Mobile’s rich history and attractions
• Pep rallies and street parties that bring our community together

These events provide visiting teams, their fans, and families with an authentic Mobile experience while supporting our local businesses and showcasing what makes our city special.

Here’s where we need your help. A nationally televised game with empty seats sends the wrong message about Mobile. When ESPN’s cameras pan across Hancock Whitney Stadium, we need to show the nation a packed house, a community that rallies behind its events and takes pride in its city.

The Bottom Line: I’m asking each of you to consider purchasing tickets for your employees, their families or community organizations you support. But purchasing tickets isn’t enough. We need people in the seats. If your company can’t use all the tickets you purchase, please consider:

• Distributing them to local schools
• Partnering with Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts troops
• Connecting with youth sports organizations
• Sharing with churches or community groups
• Offering them as employee appreciation gifts

The goal isn’t just to sell tickets – it’s to ensure every seat is filled with someone cheering, celebrating, and representing Mobile on national television.

Visit 68venturesbowl.com to purchase tickets, learn about parking options, and find complete details about all bowl week events. Tickets start at just $15, making this an affordable way to support Mobile while enjoying an exciting evening of college football.

Remembering Ann Bedsole

It is with profound sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Ann Bedsole, who died earlier this week at 95. Ann was a trailblazer whose remarkable life of service transformed Alabama politics, education and our community for generations.

Ann made history as the first woman elected to the Alabama Senate and the first Republican woman elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. Her groundbreaking legislative service from 1979 to 1995 opened doors with grace, courage and conviction, paving the way for countless women in public service.

But Ann’s legacy extends far beyond barriers broken. In the late 1980s, she co-founded the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science. This institution – Alabama’s only fully public residential high school dedicated to advanced studies – has touched thousands of young lives, providing opportunities they might never have had otherwise.

Ann’s commitment to Mobile was evident in every endeavor. She founded the Mobile Historic Home Tours and served on the Alabama Historical Commission and Mobile Historic Development Commission. She led Mobile’s Tricentennial celebration in 2002, which brought together hundreds to honor Mobile’s 300-year history.

As chair of the Sybil H. Smith Charitable Trust, later the Sybil and White Smith Foundation, Ann ensured her family’s philanthropic legacy would serve women, children and families in need, establishing a transitional home that embodied her commitment to creating pathways to better lives.

Ann received numerous honors, including First Lady of Mobile, Mobilian of the Year, Philanthropist of the Year, and induction into the Alabama Academy of Honor, yet she was never motivated by recognition but by unwavering belief in service and community.

Mobile has lost a giant. Alabama has lost a pioneer. But the institutions she built, the doors she opened, and the example she set will continue to inspire and serve for generations to come. Ann Bedsole showed us that one person, with vision, determination and grace, can truly change the world.

Until next week,

Originally published Friday, December 5.