Eastern Michigan Athletics
International Bowl Approval Gives the MAC Three Bowl Partners
4/28/2006 10:40:15 AM | Football
Rogers Centre in Toronto will be the site of only bowl outside U.S.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) today announced approval for the International Bowl, a new college football game, to be played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The game will be played on January 6, 2007 and will match a team from the Big East Conference against an opponent from the Mid-American Conference.
“This will be the only college bowl game played outside of the US,” said Ken Hoffman, Executive Director for the game. “It is an exciting opportunity for the City of Toronto and two football teams that will have an international experience.”
The game will match a second or third selection from the MAC against a fourth or fifth selection from the Big East Conference. The game will be played on Saturday, January 6, 2007 with a noon kickoff time.
Hoffman is also the Executive Director for the highly successful Motor City Bowl that will hold its tenth annual game in Detroit on December 26th. The Motor City Bowl will provide leadership and experience in bowl management for the new game in Toronto.
“The NCAA is a recognized sports brand in Toronto, Ontario and Canada,” said Cam Hawkins, a Toronto based Hospitality Industry Consultant and member of the organizing committee. “The local and regional markets do not have easy access to attend an NCAA post season event. If the NCAA succeeds with a College Football Bowl Game in Toronto, it opens the door to other events such as basketball, hockey, soccer, baseball etc. The NCAA is very influential in the US media and sporting community.”
According to officials from the participating conferences, Toronto is considered an ideal location for the game.
“Toronto is geographically central to the member schools for these two conferences,” said Nick Carparelli, Associate Commissioner for the Big East Conference. “Our Coaches, Athletics Directors, and Presidents all find Toronto and the Rogers Centre to be an ideal location for a new game.”
Bowl officials are predicting up to 20,000 fans will travel from the participating schools for the game and a weekend in Toronto.
Bob Gennarelli, Associate Commissioner for the Mid-American Conference said, “Toronto is a world class destination city within a one day drive for all of our fans. We are projecting fan travel at record levels for the game in Toronto.”
Toronto city officials are looking forward to the television exposure and US sports fans that the game will attract.
“The Motor City Bowl in Detroit has provided an average $15 million annual economic impact on that city,” said Duncan Ross, Executive Director for Toronto’s Tourism Division. “This event not only brings a major attraction to the city for our residents, but also brings with it thousands of US fans that will spend several days enjoying all that Toronto has to offer. The game is televised nationally in the US by ESPN and will offer extensive and far reaching TV exposure for Toronto.”
ESPN television has partnered with the organizers in a multi-year year agreement to broadcast the game in the US and Canada as well as provide assistance with marketing and sponsorship sales.
“We look forward to taking this project to the market place and expect the uniqueness of the event to generate significant interest,” said Dan Shumaker, director of Collegiate Development, ESPN Television.
Ticket sales plans for the International Bowl will be announced soon.
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