Restaurateurs offer feasts to bowl fans

The Tampa Bay area has the unique distinction of having two college football bowl games sponsored by locally based national restaurant chains, and both are taking full advantage of catering opportunities.

The Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl, to be played Dec. 21 at Tropicana Field, is selling seats in an all-you-can-eat lounge area behind one of the team benches. It's being marketed as “the only on-field hospitality village in all of professional or college football” and tickets are $175 each, compared to $40 for a regular seat.

Meanwhile, during the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day, Outback Steakhouse will offer up its specialties at concession booths and inside luxury suites at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The 25th Outback Bowl will feature the Florida Gators against the Penn State Nittany Lions, while the Beef's Bowl, entering its third year, offers the Louisville Cardinals and Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. Both games will be televised locally, but you'll have to make your own food arrangements.