There is something about the 2023 LA Bowl that had been stirring the interest of fans even before its kickoff. The hype is real and records don’t lie. The Starco Brands LA Bowl hosted by Gronk between the Boise State Broncos and the UCLA Bruins just broke a record in attendance! The game took a surprising turn as the Bruins rose from a pathetic start to win the bowl title after defeating the Broncos 35-22.

It’s Rob Gronkowski’s first time hosting a bowl game which was named after him. Quite an impressive start to his new position as the LA Bowl celebrates something that hasn’t been done before!

The 2023 LA Bowl beats the game record for the largest audience by 375

Last year, the LA Bowl game drew in 32,405 spectators in which Washington State lost to Fresno State 6-29. Although still an impressive record, this year’s LA Bowl, hosted by Gronk, has surpassed the previous record. As per the latest report, the 2023 LA Bowl garnered 32,780 fans in attendance, setting a new record with 375 more fans attending this year.

In the last bowl game hosted by Gronk, UCLA made an epic comeback and defeated Boise State 35-22 who dominated the first half of the game.  This time, with their victory over the Broncos, the Bruins celebrate their first Bowl game since 2015.

But was it the hype in the game itself that drew in the impressive audience or is there an external factor at play? 

Rob Gronkowski’s role in attendance record

A key aspect to consider is the popularity of this year’s LA Bowl host. With more than 4.8 million followers on IG, Rob Gronkowski was a driving factor who garnered over 3.1 million impressions on social media when he was announced as the new host. 

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Sports business professor David Carter spoke about the level of popularity that bowl games achieve with the entity attached to it. The USC professor said, “Bowl games are about branding and business development, whether linked to corporations or, in this case, individuals. Cross-promotional opportunities exist when high-profile celebrities attach their names to these bowls, even if the return on their time and energy is modest given the status of the game.“

Rob Gronkowski is a former Arizona college football player who entered the NFL to become one of the best tight ends in the league with 4 Super Bowl championships under his belt.

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Do you think Gronk’s branding with the LA Bowl is one of the reasons that catapulted the bowl game to achieve this record? Let us know your thoughts.