91 years ago, fans flocked to Miami from New York when Manhattan College faced the Miami Hurricanes in the first-ever Festival of Palms Bowl. George Hussey, the official greeter of Miami, created the game to attract more visitors to Miami. The bowl was so successful they had an encore and then renamed it the Orange Bowl. Thus, South Florida’s college football tourist tradition began.

Fast forward to 2024, where Boca Raton, a suburb of Miami, proudly attracts visiting fans during the season and in the postseason with the Boca Raton Bowl. The program proudly proclaims a game at FAU Stadium as “Football in Paradise.” This slogan does not disappoint.

Here’s the thing — Army does not play a game like this if they are not in the American Athletic Conference. Army had not played in Florida, a hotbed for recruiting, since 2004 when they were Conference USA members. It was just their second appearance since 1978. Now, Army fans can indulge in a trip to “Paradise” regularly. The FAU trip is a bucket-list item for any Army fan!

BOCA!

But before diving into the gameday experience, the breathtaking beauty of the Atlantic Beach deserves a mention. Just look at this: this view alone was worth the trip, even if Army were to lose.

Downtown Boca Raton is a lovely place for a walk, especially on a Saturday night. There is something for everyone there when it comes to cuisine. And you don’t have to travel all the way to South Beach for a nice meal!

The Gameday Experience

Now, let’s talk about gameday! On my way to the Army tailgate, kind FAU fans intercepted my wife and me and hosted us at their tailgate. What a kind welcome to The American! They were mostly older locals who had supported the team from the start. I engaged in some pregame chicken-slinging shenanigans. Anyone who saw my tosses will know why I did not branch artillery.

A chance encounter with an FAU football staffer after an Italian dinner at Bob’s Pizza and Amante’s Italian Cuisine landed my wife and me field passes for warmups. Watching the Black Knights warm up from the field was a surreal experience. I may start a portfolio with the pictures I took during warmups.

The crowd was surprisingly even with Army fans and FAU fans at kickoff. Attendance was reported as 21,810 attended, which filled two-thirds of FAU Stadium. In reality, it seemed more like half-full. However, the oppressive heat and Owls’ misfortunes chased away many local fans and much of the student body before the second half. That left a minuscule crowd of mostly Army faithful by the fourth quarter.

FAU seemed to enjoy hosting a Service Academy for the first time since 2017 when they hosted Navy. While it was hot, FAU made sure to honor plenty of local veterans!

Army fans would have preferred to make this trip in November, escaping freezing temperatures in New York. And a noon kickoff is simply unbearable for a lot of fans. Fans hid in the shade of the concourse for relief throughout the game — my wife was one of those. Safe to say, this was not an ideal first Army football game for her. Still, she took some sweet action shots in  the game’s final moments.

I am sold on Boca Raton after just one visit. It’s one of the best cities in The American, like New York, New Orleans and Houston, as one of the best destinations. Why the Black Knights avoided Florida for so long is beyond me. Beyond being an unforgettable experience for fans, Florida is one of America’s most football talent-rich states. Florida games are here to stay and Army is better off.

Go Army! Beat Rice!!!

Cover image via @ArmyWP_Football.