Behind The
Bowls, Part 1
The swag, the
events, the background for each bowl game
By
Richard Cirminiello
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Part 2 |
Part 3
EagleBank Bowl
Best Non-Game Event
While this is the inaugural EagleBank Bowl, there are several events
that will make this game compelling. Both teams will have the
opportunity to visit the Capitol and injured troops at The US Naval
Academy, which is unique to this part of the country. Each school will
also have an evening at the ESPN Sports Zone and there will be a
luncheon on Dec. 19 at the JW Marriott that will feature numerous
prestigious speakers.
Player Gift Package
Players from both schools will receive a Sony 8" portable DVD player
with carry case, a 50" x 60" custom woven afghan w/ logo, an autographed
football, and a wool hat w/ embroidered logo.
Charitable Component
The numerous charities associated with the game includes Positive
Choices, the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation, the National Kidney
Foundation, Peaceholics, the D.C. Public Education Fund, and Title IX
Scholarships.
How Success is Measured
This is the first of what the committee hopes are many years of the
EagleBank Bowl. Success comes in different ways, but first and foremost
is creating a great experience for the two teams that come to Washington
DC. It wants the players, coaches and administrators to come away saying
that this was a first- class experience that reflects well on Washington
DC.
Another measure of success is how well the charitable causes are
supported. The game is not simply associating itself with these
different charities. It wants to contribute to each of them and help
each grow because they are all making great contributions both
regionally and nationally.
The EagleBank Bowl is also designed to drive revenues for local
businesses and thereby support the community in which the committee
works and lives.
Impact to the Community
The benefits to the local community will be numerous, however, the local
charities will feel the largest impact of the game. The charitable
impact on the local community is the biggest reason EagleBank got
involved. In addition to benefiting charities, the opportunity to bring
football back to RFK Stadium and show off the facility to a national
audience is tremendous.
Role of Volunteers
Volunteers will play a vital role in the success of the inaugural
EagleBank Bowl. The effort to get the game to Washington was initiated
by volunteers, and much of the work in planning and executing the lead
up to the game has been done by volunteers. The week and day of the game
will depend on several hundred volunteers to ensure the game is run in
an exceptional manner. A large portion of how people view the city and
game will come from the perception of the volunteers.
New Mexico Bowl
Best Non-Game Event
The El Pinto Welcome Reception and Team Dinner stands out among the most
popular events each year. The event, held Dec. 17 this year, is hosted
annually by El Pinto, a local New Mexican restaurant. It’s unique and
exciting because each year there is a Chili Cook-off. Each school fields
a team of six cooks and is given 45 minutes to turn raw ingredients into
a delicious green chile stew, one of the state's favorite dishes. The
winner is decided by a panel of judges that usually includes El Pinto
owner Jim Thomas. An interesting note on the event, too, is the strange
coincidence that has occurred with the winners. The first year, New
Mexico won the cook-off but lost the bowl game, and last year, Nevada
won the cook-off and lost the bowl game.
Player Gift Package
This year’s player gift package includes an Oakley backpack, an Oakley
watch, an RCA video recorder/camera, an Oakley beanie, a personalized
commemorative football, a New Mexico Bowl pen by Quill, a New Era Cap,
and a one-year subscription to ESPN the magazine.
Charitable Component
The New Mexico Bowl works with many local charities, including Special
Olympics, New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch, and the UNM Children's
Hospital.
How Success is Measured
Success is measured on a number of levels, but the biggest is by the
response of the participating teams and their fans. Of course,
attendance is a factor, as is how the bowl did financially; The
committee feels it’s doing well in both of those areas. The biggest
concern is whether the student-athletes and everyone involved have a
great time and walk away saying that they’d like to return to the New
Mexico Bowl in the future. If that’s achieved, as it has been in the
past, then success has been reached.
MVP of the Bowl
Linda Perkins and there’s no two ways about it. She sits at the front
desk and takes care of everything. While Jeff Siembieda may be called
the "executive director", she is the one who runs this operation. From
volunteers, to bills, to phones, to dealing with clients and board
members, she is the MVP of this bowl game.
Impact to the Community
It is the premier annual sports event in the state, and the only
annual nationally televised event in New Mexico, so it has got quite an
impact. New Mexico is growing and this is a key component to show that
this state can play on a national stage. The community is proud of this
event and wants to see it grow. Plus, on what is traditionally the
slowest tourism week of the year in New Mexico, hotels, restaurants and
attractions are being filled, so obviously, the economic impact is
substantial.
Role of Volunteers
For the most part, volunteers are a huge part of bowl week. They
staff events and help out at all of the events. Plus, they take pride in
being a part of the New Mexico Bowl and showing off the host state.
St. Petersburg Bowl
Best Non-Game Event
The players will enjoy activities, such as dinner and a movie along
the St. Petersburg Pier, a dinner cruise, and a beach bash on St. Pete
Beach. The fans will be able to revel in a week of activities, which
includes a team beach challenge at the Tradewinds, fan pep rally, and
fan fest.
Player Gift Package
Players from each school will receive a Flip (digital video device), an
Ogio bag, Sony headphones, a commemorative football, a beach towel, and
a bucket hat.
Charitable Component
The St. Petersburg Bowl will be working very closely with the Mike
Alstott Family Foundation.
How Success is Measured
In its inaugural season, the St. Petersburg Bowl is aiming to provide a
quality experience for the student athletes and their fans.
MVP of the Bowl
It's a team effort, with a big team that includes a board of
advisors from the St. Petersburg community, so it’s hard to single out
one person. Everyone plays an important role in this process.
Impact to the Community
The game anticipates having a tremendous economic impact on the city of
St. Petersburg, as well as bringing awareness to the community. It also
plans to impact many lives through its charitable work with the Mike
Alstott Family Foundation.
Role of Volunteers
Volunteers play a huge role in the success of the game by providing
valuable assistance in hosting the teams and fans, and being an
extension of the bowl staff as the face of the game.
Las Vegas Bowl
Best Non-Game Event
Obviously, Las Vegas offers some unique settings for its bowl
events. The team welcome reception takes place on a mini-Brooklyn Bridge
outside of the New York New York Hotel with the amazing Las Vegas Strip
as a backdrop. Elvis sings. Showgirls pose. It's a very memorable time.
Then the teams go in to play games and eat at ESPN ZONE inside the
hotel.
Also, the teams are treated to a world-class Las Vegas show on the
Strip. Whether it's BYU going to see Blue Man Group in 2006 or UCLA
heading to KA by Cirque du Soleil in 2007 or this year's teams heading
in to Planet Hollywood Resort to take in Stomp Out Loud, you'd be hard
pressed to find such entertainment options at any other bowl game.
Player Gift Package
Players from each school will receive a Wii System, an Oakley Holeshot
3hd watch, and a Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl hat
Charitable Component
This year, the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl has partnered with the group Cell
Phones for Soldiers to raise funds to provide Southern Nevada troops
deployed abroad with prepaid calling cards. Cell Phones for Soldiers is
an organization founded by teens Brittany and Rob Bergquist that
collects used cellular telephones and accessories and sells them to
ReCellular, which then recycles the products. Proceeds are then used by
Cell Phones for Soldiers to purchase prepaid calling cards that are
distributed to members of the United States Military. Donations will be
accepted through December 20, with the donation check and phones being
presented at Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl XVII.
How Success is Measured
The Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl is looking at a fourth consecutive sold-out
game in 2008, so the bar has recently been raised for attendance. An
attractive matchup that produces an exciting game on the field is also
paramount to an overall successful bowl experience. Of course, this is
Las Vegas, and if nothing else, the bowl committee wants all the
players, coaches, staff and fans to have a great time while visiting one
of the most exciting cities on the planet.
MVP of the Bowl
The Pioneer Las Vegas has chosen not to single out any one
individual from a group that it considers to be indispensable.
Impact to the Community
The Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl was introduced in 1992, then pitting the
Mid-American champ vs. the Big West champ, for the purpose of filling
hotel rooms on the Las Vegas Strip during what is traditionally a down
period here—the week before Christmas. Now, even though Las Vegas has
exploded in tourism numbers since that time, the bowl still is
responsible for filling a good percentage of rooms each December. As the
game has grown from sparse crowds to sold-out stands, the bowl has
become a key part of the community's very busy event calendar.
Poinsettia Bowl
Best Non-Game Event
For fans during bowl week, the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia
Bowl will be staging the first ever march through the historical Gaslamp
district of the city. Both bands and spirit squads will march from each
end of the historic downtown area and meet in the middle for the Battle
of the Bands. For the players, the annual Grand Prix is very popular.
Helmets will be strapped on the players—and coaches—and a grand
prix-style karting race will be staged.
Player Gift Package
Players will receive a Tommy Hilfiger watch, an 8 gig iPOD touch, a
Best Buy certificate, and a hooded sweatshirt from Sports Tek
Charitable Component
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego is the primary beneficiary of
the Poinsettia Bowl. One dollar per ticket goes to the charity, and Wish
Kids serve in roles, such as Honorary Captains, flipping the coin,
getting the tee after kickoff, and participating in the National Anthem.
The bowl also brings 600 wish representatives, including kids and
families, to the game gratis. They all participate in a pregame show
parade honoring the charity.
How Success is Measured
There are many benchmarks by which the bowl committee measures
success. First, it aims to provide a considerable economic impact on
the San Diego region. The more fans that travel to San Diego for each
game the better. Second, it wants to see large crowds at each game.
Third, it expects those fans to enjoy not only the game, but the entire
experience, including pregame and halftime shows, and non-game
entertainment. And finally, it’s important to the committee that the
student-athletes have enjoyable bowl week experiences that will provide
memories to last a lifetime. The Poinsettia Bowl staff puts a lot of
energy into providing them with a first-class San Diego bowl week.
MVP of the Bowl
There are so many people that play invaluable roles in the
production of the game, it’s impossible to choose a single person. The
bowl is fortunate to have a dedicated and loyal volunteer corps. It has
30 active board members, 120 committee members, and several hundred
other volunteers. It's because of these selfless people that the bowl is
so highly regarded throughout college football. The committee believes
it has the hardest working corps of volunteers among the postseason
games.
Impact to the Community
The mission of the bowl game is to generate tourism, exposure, economic
benefit, and civic pride for San Diego and it's citizens by presenting
the nation's most entertaining bowl games and festivals of events. The
impact the game has on the San Diego community is considerable. Last
year, for example, the games—the Holiday and Poinsettia Bowls—generated
an economic benefit of more than $40 million. San Diegans are
enthusiastic about both games.
Role of Volunteers
There are only nine individuals who are paid to put on two games in
San Diego, the Poinsettia and Holiday Bowl. They rely heavily on
volunteers to make these games and festivities function on a year-round
basis. They produce, sell, and market their calendar of events, such as
outrigger canoe races, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, golf tournament,
wiener dog races, hole-in-one tournament, and more. They truly will play
a role in every function associated with the organization.
Hawaii Bowl
Best Non-Game
Event
The Barefoot Pep Rally allows the locals to mingle with the teams,
cheerleaders, bands and tourists on world famous Waikiki Beach. After
the sun goes down, the beach is converted into the world's most
beautiful outdoor movie theatre and a football themed movie is screened
free of charge for all to enjoy.
Player Gift Package
Players from both schools will receive a Hawaii Bowl custom backpack, a
KICKER IKick500 ipod/iphone, a custom Hawaii Bowl tie, Oakley
sunglasses, a Kahala Aloha shirt, a Wearever beach chair, a beach towel,
a team t-shirt, an SHB calendar, a Hawaii Bowl hat, a Hawaii Bowl visor,
and Luggage Spotter bag tags.
Charitable Component
Since its inception, the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl has made sure there is a
community "giveback" component to the bowl. Through ancillary events
that occur year-round, the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl has donated more than
$270,000 in cash to various Hawaii non-profit agencies. In addition, the
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl over the past four years has provided more than
$1,250,000 worth of tickets to Hawaii-based military personnel and local
non-profit organizations.
A partial list of benefactors includes: Rainbow Fever, American Diabetes
Association, all of the Military Branches, HHSAA, Adult Friends for
Youth, Pop Warner, YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, HSTA, Special
Olympics, Hawaii Speed and Quickness, Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance,
OIA, Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation, Cure Autism Now, American Red
Cross, Aloha United Way, Honolulu Symphony, Rehab Hospital of the
Pacific, Ronald McDonald House of Hawaii, Various Public and Private
Schools, and the Lokahi Giving Project.
How Success is Measured
Success is measured by the level of community support received by the
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl during the winter, summer, and in the fall, prior
to the announcement of the match up each year. It is the tremendous
local support and civic pride that will continue to grow the Sheraton
Hawaii Bowl into Hawaii’s Holiday Tradition.
MVP of the Bowl
The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl is truly a team effort that would not be
successful without the hard work of all involved. It would be impossible
to single out one individual above all others.
Impact to the Community
In addition to the charitable aspect, the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl provides
the rest of the country with a three-hour glimpse into the spectacular
scenery and year-round beautiful weather of Hawaii. This exposure is
invaluable to the state's main economic driver—tourism.
Role of Volunteers
Quite simply, without the volunteers, which include board members,
the game would not be played. The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl operates with a
full-time staff of two people. All of the work is accomplished with the
help and hard work of interns and volunteers.
- Part 2 |
Part 3