News article
Thursday, June 19th, 2008
2008 TEXAS BOWL TO BE PLAYED TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30
Texas Bowl to feature Big 12, Conference USA; has option to select Navy
The 2008 Texas Bowl will be played on Tuesday, December 30 at Reliant Stadium, the Texas Bowl Committee announced today. The announcement was made in front of a crowd of over 200 at a Texas Bowl luncheon held at Reliant Stadium.
December 30 marks the latest date for the Texas Bowl in its three-year history. The bowl was played on December 28 in each of the last two years. The 2008 edition will feature teams from the Big 12 and Conference USA. The game will be broadcast nationally on NFL Network.
The Texas Bowl also announced an option to select Navy if the Midshipmen are bowl-eligible. Navy boasts a strong nationwide following, including a significant military population in the Greater Houston area. Navy has played in bowls following each of the last five seasons, including an appearance in the Houston Bowl in 2003 vs. Texas Tech.
Speakers at the luncheon included new University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin, Houston Texans preseason TV analyst Spencer Tillman and Texans linebacker and Texas Bowl alumnus Zac Diles. Houston played in the 2007 Texas Bowl prior to Sumlin’s arrival, and Diles played in the inaugural Texas Bowl with Kansas State in 2006.
In two years, the Texas Bowl has generated more than $50 million in local revenue and has built a season ticket base of over 20,000. The 2007 Texas Bowl was a rousing success as TCU defeated Houston, 20-13, in front of 62,097 fans—the third-largest crowd ever to see a college bowl game in Houston. Over 35,000 tickets sold before the matchup was announced.
The inaugural Texas Bowl featured a Rutgers team that enjoyed a top 10 ranking for much of the season and a Kansas State squad which closed the season strong under first-year head coach Ron Prince. Rutgers won the inaugural Texas Bowl, 37-10, behind an MVP performance from RB Ray Rice who ran for 170 yards and a touchdown.
For more information, please contact Texas Bowl media relations director Zac Emmons at 832-667-2220 or via email at .
ABOUT LONE STAR SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment (LSSE) is an independent event management company which is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since being founded in 2003, LSSE has established itself as the leading sports event promoter in Houston. LSSE has delivered the five largest crowds to witness soccer matches in Texas history, all within the last five years, including the 2006 FC Barcelona United States tour, the 2005 and 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cups, and international friendly matches between the United States and México in 2003 and 2008. LSSE moved into the world of college football in 2006 when it established the Texas Bowl. In its two-year existence, the Texas Bowl has generated an average of $25 million in local economic impact in the Greater Houston area. The Texas Bowl has grown its season ticket base to more than 20,000, a number which is on par with BCS-level bowl games. This year, LSSE is branching out into the concert industry as it brings Kenny Chesney’s Poets and Pirates Tour to Reliant Stadium in August. LSSE has also assisted the Stanford Financial Champions Cup tennis tournament and the PGA Tour’s Shell Houston Open with local marketing and promotion.
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- Media contactS
- Zac Emmons (832) 667-2220
- David Brady (832) 667-2109
- Tiffani Walker (832) 667-2282
