Scroll to find SALT BOWL info about:

1. The Big Game
2. The Sponsors
3. The Hype
4. The Tickets
5. The Contests
6. The Donations
7. The Press Conference
8. The Pep Rallies
9. The Route
10. The Rules
11. The Tailgate
12. The Opening
13. The Coin Toss
14. The Halftime
15. The Score

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1. The big game:

Tickets and t-shirts for Salt Bowl 2019 go on sale Monday, July 29 and the Salt Bowl Committee announces the theme this year is “Salty Tradition, Since 1974.” The event is set for Friday, August 30th at 7:30 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium at #1 Stadium Drive in Little Rock.

2. The sponsors:

Salt Bowl relies on community support and many sponsors, including Big Red Stores, Everett Buick GMC, ACDI, McFarland Eye Care, Chuy’s Restaurant, Jones Heating and Air, Arkansas Urology, Dairy Queen, Skippy Foods, Chick-Fil-A, Petit Jean Meats, Arkansas Copier, Recycle Saline, Bin There Dump That, Ortho Arkansas, Arkansas Bone and Joint, Republic Services, Saline Memorial Hospital, Mascot Media, The Chris Kinzler Family, Silver Eagle GPX, Saline County Banks and Credit Unions, Greater Bryant Chamber of Commerce and Benton Area Chamber of Commerce.

3. The hype:

This will mark the 45th year the Benton Panthers and Bryant Hornets have played this big rivalry game. The Salt Bowl is the most attended high school game each year in Arkansas. Benton is the home team this year and will sit on the west side of the stadium, under the press box. There are new security procedures at the stadium this year. There is a clear bag policy and each fan will go through a metal detector. See SaltBowlAR.com for a list of permitted and prohibited items. Follow the festivities on the website and social media at @SaltBowlAR and with the hashtag #SaltyTradition.

4. The tickets:

Tickets will be available at Big Red Stores for $12.00 each and that includes a game t-shirt. Ticket buyers will also receive a coupon for free queso from Chuy’s in West Little Rock and North Little Rock. Tickets will be available the day of the game for $15.00 but that does not include a t-shirt. Only AAA passes will be accepted. Purchase special tickets from the Benton or Bryant Chamber: Indoor Club Level tickets are $25.00 and that includes a game t-shirt. Also purchase VIP parking passes for $25.00.

5. The contests:

Sign up at Everett Buick GMC between now and game day or at the tailgate party for the drawing to participate in the “Throw Like a Pro” contest at halftime and possibly win a new truck.

Sign up at Chick-Fil-A in Bryant for the chance to be “Kickin’ for Chicken” and you could be picked to try for a field goal to win a year’s supply of chicken from Chick-Fil-a.

6. The donations:

After collecting a record 40,000 pounds of peanut butter last year, the Arkansas Foodbank will again partner with Skippy Foods for the annual Peanut Butter Drive from July 29th through August 27th to provide food for children and families in need in our community. Schools from Bryant and Benton will compete to donate the most peanut butter, with a goal of 25,000 pounds and then Skippy Foods will provide a matching gift. This year, parents and students may bring donations to open house before school starts. Saline County residents may also drop off donations at Big Red locations and Everett Buick GMC. Make sure to tell them which school district gets the credit. The peanut butter stays in the school districts and food pantries in Saline County. If your business would like to be a collection location, call Nick Bradford at 501-569-4315.

You can also donate by text during August. Donate $10 to the Arkansas Food Bank by texting FEED to 501501. This will help hungry children, families and seniors in Arkansas.

Both schools will also compete in a blood drive. Arkansas Blood Institute will host a drive at Bryant High School on September 10th and at Benton High School on September 11th. The school that donates the most pints of blood will get a trophy.

Donate gently used clothing and household items to Goodwill Industries of Arkansas in Benton and Bryant. The donations from each location will be counted on August 29th to see which school donated more. Both schools will receive cash prizes and gift cards for families based on the number of donations collected.

7. The press conference:

The Recycle Saline Coaches’ and Players’ press conference will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 27th at the Benton Events Center. Panthers Coach Brad Harris, Hornets Coach Buck James and two players from each team will speak about this year’s game before the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce Salt Bowl Luncheon at noon.

8. The pep rallies:

Drones will fly over the community pep rallies to determine which school has the largest crowd. This year, they will both be on the same day but at different locations. On Tuesday, August 27th at 6:00 p.m., Bryant fans will rally at Everett Buick GMC and Benton fans will rally at Everett Infiniti. There will be free hot dogs, drinks and Kona Ice. Come out and show your school spirit to make the largest crowd for your team.

9. The route:

Friday afternoon traffic will be an issue on the way to the Stadium. Here is a map and some alternate routes from Interstate 630:

10. The rules:

This year, there will be barricades inside the stadium concourses so that you cannot go from one side to the other. Benton fans will enter the stadium on the home side (press box side). Bryant fans will enter on the visitor side. If you enter on the wrong side, you will not be permitted to re-enter without purchasing another ticket.

War Memorial Stadium has published the guide below, detailing what to bring and what not to bring to the game. If you have any questions about these policies or if you need to speak with someone about special accommodations, please contact War Memorial Stadium at 501-663-0775.

11. The tailgate:

The Dairy Queen Tailgate Party will be an all-day affair at War Memorial Stadium, leading up to the Salt Bowl kickoff. To reserve your tailgate spot for your family, friends, or graduating class, contact War Memorial Stadium at 501-663-6385.

Beginning at 4:00 p.m., see businesses, non-profits, churches, colleges, campaigns and 103.7 The Buzz will start their own tailgate on the east side of the stadium. Petit Jean Meats and Saline County banks and credit unions will pass out free hot dogs and drinks. There will be over 80 vendors, plus Midtowne Church will host the Kids Zone of inflatables. If you would like a vendor booth, contact the Bryant Chamber of Commerce at 501-847-4702.

12. The opening:

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and pre-game begins at 7:00 p.m. with recognition of the Future Panthers and Future Hornets and cheerleaders, Community Service Awards, Rob Patrick Award and Donnie Burks Award, all sponsored by McFarland Eye Center.

13. The coin toss:

The Honorary Captain for this year’s coin toss, sponsored by Republic Services, will be THV 11 anchor celebrating 50 years in the broadcasting business… Craig O’Neill. The Honorary Co-Captains are Coach Dwight Fite who initiated the beginning of Benton vs. Bryant with a call to Coach Max Graham and would end up being the head coach at both schools; and Coach Paul Revis, who was the head coach of the Hornets in 1974; and Doug Graham, son of the late Benton Head Coach in 1974, Max Graham.

14. The halftime:

At halftime the cheer and dance squads will perform, the Benton and Bryant bands will perform together, and the “Kickin’ for Chicken” and “Throw Like a Pro” contests will proceed.

15. The score:

• 42 BRYANT HORNETS 

• 14 BENTON PANTHERS 

Since you read this far, there’s one more contest! Now that we know what the score is, and now that you have posted your guesses, I’ve sorted them in a certain way and we’ll do a drawing on Facebook, where I’ll ask readers there to pick a number between 1 and 30. Then I’ll post the corresponding winner.

Put your score guess in the comments below. You don’t even have to be close, but we’ll pick a winner from ALL  the comments for a $25 Papa John’s gift card… and the closest guess will have bragging rights.