Papa John’s extends sponsorship of Papajohns.com Bowlfor two more years
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Papa John’s International (NASDAQ: PZZA), has agreed to a two-year commitment to remain the title sponsor of the Papajohns.com Bowl, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) announced today. The extension includes the 2008 and 2009 bowl games, and Papa John’s will have a two-year renewal option to extend the sponsorship through 2011. Terms were not disclosed.
“With the Papajohns.com Bowl being the highest rated event on ESPN2 during the month of December for two consecutive years, we think continued support of the bowl makes great business sense for us as we continue to strengthen our leadership position in online ordering and our connection with college football fans,” said Chris Sternberg, Papa John’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications. “The game pits teams from two great conferences in the football capital of the South, so it’s very exciting for us to continue this relationship with ESPN.”
“We are excited to have Papa John’s extend its agreement as our title sponsor through the 2009 game,” said Mark Meadows, Executive Director of the Papajohns.com Bowl. “We have greatly enjoyed our relationship with Papa John’s and appreciate their commitment to the future of our game. Their continued support will allow us to build on the Papajohns.com Bowl brand and the success we have enjoyed in our first two years of operation.”
The inaugural Papajohns.com Bowl, an ERT owned and operated event, marked the return of post-season football to Birmingham. The bowl game was played Dec. 23, 2006 at Legion Field. South Florida, representing the BIG EAST, defeated C-USA representative East Carolina 24-7 in front of a crowd of nearly 30,000. In 2007, the Cincinnati Bearcats, ranked No. 20 nationally, and the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles squared off, with Cincinnati claiming a 36-21 victory in front of more than 32,000 fans.
According to the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Papajohns.com Bowl has generated a combined economic impact of $12.3 million to Birmingham in its first two years.
Tickets to the 2008 Papajohns.com Bowl are scheduled to go on sale in June.
ESPN REGIONAL TELEVISION/EVENT OWNERSHIP
The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 900 sporting events. Programming includes football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events accounting for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming. In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (e.g. – BIG EAST, Big 12, Mid-American, Sun Belt, WAC).
ESPN Regional Television markets and/or owns several other sporting events, including collegiate football events: the Papajohns.com Bowl; the Bell Helicopter Armed Forced Bowl; the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl; the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, the New Mexico Bowl; the MEAC/SWAC Challenge; and The Home Depot College Football Awards; collegiate basketball events: the O’Reilly Auto Parts All-College Classic (Oklahoma City); the Old Spice Classic (Orlando, Fla.); the BIG EAST/SEC Invitational; the Anaheim Classic (Calif.); the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); and the O’Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters; as well as the ESPN National Golf Challenge presented by Callaway. For more information, visit ESPNPlus.com.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Papa John’s International (NASDAQ: PZZA), has agreed to a two-year commitment to remain the title sponsor of the Papajohns.com Bowl, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) announced today. The extension includes the 2008 and 2009 bowl games, and Papa John’s will have a two-year renewal option to extend the sponsorship through 2011. Terms were not disclosed.
“With the Papajohns.com Bowl being the highest rated event on ESPN2 during the month of December for two consecutive years, we think continued support of the bowl makes great business sense for us as we continue to strengthen our leadership position in online ordering and our connection with college football fans,” said Chris Sternberg, Papa John’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications. “The game pits teams from two great conferences in the football capital of the South, so it’s very exciting for us to continue this relationship with ESPN.”
“We are excited to have Papa John’s extend its agreement as our title sponsor through the 2009 game,” said Mark Meadows, Executive Director of the Papajohns.com Bowl. “We have greatly enjoyed our relationship with Papa John’s and appreciate their commitment to the future of our game. Their continued support will allow us to build on the Papajohns.com Bowl brand and the success we have enjoyed in our first two years of operation.”
The inaugural Papajohns.com Bowl, an ERT owned and operated event, marked the return of post-season football to Birmingham. The bowl game was played Dec. 23, 2006 at Legion Field. South Florida, representing the BIG EAST, defeated C-USA representative East Carolina 24-7 in front of a crowd of nearly 30,000. In 2007, the Cincinnati Bearcats, ranked No. 20 nationally, and the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles squared off, with Cincinnati claiming a 36-21 victory in front of more than 32,000 fans.
According to the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Papajohns.com Bowl has generated a combined economic impact of $12.3 million to Birmingham in its first two years.
Tickets to the 2008 Papajohns.com Bowl are scheduled to go on sale in June.
ESPN REGIONAL TELEVISION/EVENT OWNERSHIP
The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 900 sporting events. Programming includes football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events accounting for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming. In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (e.g. – BIG EAST, Big 12, Mid-American, Sun Belt, WAC).
ESPN Regional Television markets and/or owns several other sporting events, including collegiate football events: the Papajohns.com Bowl; the Bell Helicopter Armed Forced Bowl; the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl; the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, the New Mexico Bowl; the MEAC/SWAC Challenge; and The Home Depot College Football Awards; collegiate basketball events: the O’Reilly Auto Parts All-College Classic (Oklahoma City); the Old Spice Classic (Orlando, Fla.); the BIG EAST/SEC Invitational; the Anaheim Classic (Calif.); the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); and the O’Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters; as well as the ESPN National Golf Challenge presented by Callaway. For more information, visit ESPNPlus.com.
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