The
HoosierGazette.com Independence Bowl? An idea for giving a small business and
unpopular bowl game big-time exposure
By Josh
Whicker, Editor
January 23, 2005
After reading an article I
found on Fark.com about the Independence Bowl turning down strip club chain Deja
Vu’s $1 million offer to sponsor next year’s game, I sent to Independence Bowl
executive director Glen Krupica and the Shreveport Times the following e-mail:
After watching the
movie Rocky
yesterday and this morning reading Tim Greening's Friday article "Is the
Stripper Bowl that bad an idea? (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050122/NEWS0803/501220330)"
from the Shreveport Times about Deja Vu Strip Clubs offering $1 million to be
the Independence Bowl's official sponsor, I came up with an idea for sponsorship
of the game for next year that would also generate a lot of free publicity.
How about having a
sponsorship raffle for the game? Any family-oriented small business around the
country could buy one ticket for $1,000 to have a chance for their company's
name as the sponsor of the Independence Bowl. At some point a couple of months
prior to the game, a drawing would be held to choose the winner. The business
picked would have their name in advertising for the bowl (for instance,
the Kenny's Cajun Corn Independence Bowl), and their logo in the center of the
field on game day.
Just like club fighter
Rocky Balboa's chance to face off against heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, the
raffle would give some small business that would never have a chance at this
kind of exposure an opportunity to have their name and logo on national
television.
Small business owners
around the country would jump at the chance to get this kind of recognition.
Sales from the raffle would cover payment to the two participating teams and the
advertising budget for the game. The game would also receive a lot of free
media attention from the draw and this unique way of obtaining sponsorship
funds.
Just an idea,
Josh Whicker
Corydon, IN
Just think, next December
28 you might sit down in front of your TV, flip on ESPN, and watch the John
Wayne’s Sports Bar Independence Bowl.
