OUTBACK BOWL ANNOUNCES NOON KICKOFF FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY 2015 GAME

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                              September 9, 2014

 OUTBACK BOWL ANNOUNCES NOON KICKOFF FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY 2015 GAME

 Tampa, FL – The 29th edition of the Outback Bowl will kick off at 12:00 Noon EST on New Year’s Day 2015, bowl officials announced today.  The bowl plays host to teams from the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference in Raymond James Stadium. 

“We are extremely excited for the opportunity to be the first game to kick off the most tradition-rich day of college football – New Year’s Day,” notes Outback Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay.  “All eyes of the college football world will be on the Outback Bowl and our beautiful Tampa Bay community.”

This will also be the 20th year for Outback Steakhouse as title sponsor of the bowl, the longest title sponsorship of any college bowl game.

Tickets to the bowl are on sale through Ticketmaster.  Phone orders can be placed with a credit card by calling Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or 1-800-745-3000 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet in the state of Florida.

For information on premium seating through a bowl membership package call the Outback Bowl office directly at (813) 874-BOWL or go to the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com for details.

The Outback Bowl attracts tens-of-thousands of out of market visitors from more than 40 states who join local fans each year in generating an economic impact estimated at $1 billion on the Tampa Bay area over its history.  The game also generates tens of millions of dollars in exposure for the region each year and has contributed more than $117 million to universities over its history. 

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PRESS RELEASE: LSU, IOWA TO SQUARE-OFF IN OUTBACK BOWL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      December 8, 2013

LSU, IOWA TO SQUARE-OFF IN OUTBACK BOWL

Tampa, FL— The LSU Tigers and Iowa Hawkeyes will square-off in the Outback Bowl on January 1st in Tampa, bowl officials announced today.  The Tigers are 9-3 and ranked No. 14 in the AP and USA Today Polls while the Hawkeyes are 8-4.  It will be only the second time these teams have played in 120 seasons of their football history, and the first time in the past twenty-five years LSU has played in the Outback Bowl.

“We are thrilled to extend an invitation to LSU and the University of Iowa to play in this year’s Outback Bowl,” said Outback Bowl Chairman Ken Hoverman.  “We feel these two teams will continue our reputation of putting on an exciting show on New Year’s Day.    We look forward to hosting the Tigers and Hawkeyes teams and their fans, and ensure them they will have a fabulous experience in the Tampa Bay area.”

“We are looking forward to playing in the Outback Bowl, one of the premier bowl games in college football each year,” said LSU Head Coach Les Miles.  “The Outback Bowl has a rich history and it’s played in a great city in a tremendous venue and I know that our players and fans will be excited about the opportunity to play on New Year’s Day against a very successful Big Ten program like Iowa. I have great respect for Kirk Ferentz and the program that he’s built at Iowa. They have enjoyed a lot of success in the Big Ten for over an extended period of time and we are excited about the chance to play them.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to bring the LSU football program and our tremendous fan base to Tampa for the Outback Bowl,” adds LSU Vice-Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva.  “By winning nine games and being ranked No. 14 in the nation, Coach Miles and his team deserve the chance to be able to play in this prestigious New Year’s Day bowl. We are looking forward to bringing the great LSU fans to Tampa for a week to enjoy the Outback Bowl experience.”

“Our entire football program is excited for this opportunity to compete against LSU in the 2014 Outback Bowl,” noted Hawkeye Head Coach Kirk Ferentz.  “This is one of the great bowl events of the postseason, we are extremely pleased to travel to Tampa to represent the University of Iowa and the Big Ten Conference.”

“We are honored and proud to accept the invitation to participate in the 2014 Outback Bowl against LSU,” added Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta.  “Kirk, his staff, and his team have worked extremely hard since the end of last season, and have been playing great football all year…especially down the stretch.  Our team looks forward to returning to the Tampa area, and I know Hawkeye fans are excited to follow our team and get back to the Outback Bowl.”

This will be only the second time LSU has played in this bowl, their last appearance being in the 1989 game when it was called the Hall of Fame Bowl.  Iowa last played in the Outback Bowl in 2008 and will be enjoying their fourth appearance in Tampa.

The Outback Bowl will be played on January 1^st at 1:00 PM at Raymond James Stadium.     Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or 1-800-745-3000 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet in the state of Florida.

For information on limited priority seating through an Outback Bowl Membership package call the Outback Bowl office directly at (813) 874-BOWL or go to the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com for details.

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Recording Artist Darius Rucker to Sing National Anthem at Outback Bowl

Outback Bowl officials have announced that national recording artist Darius Rucker will sing the national anthem at this year’s game when the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines square-off against the No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks on New Year’s Day in Tampa.  Rucker is preparing to release his third country album in January.  He became famous as the lead singer for “Hootie & the Blowfish.” The Outback Bowl will be played on January 1^st at 1:00 PM at Raymond James Stadium.     Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or 1-800-745-3000 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet in the state of Florida.

For information on limited priority seating through a bowl membership package call the Outback Bowl office directly at (813) 874-BOWL or go to the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com for details.

College Football Fans Can Vote for Their Teams at OutbackBowl.com

College football fans once again have a chance to voice their opinion on what teams they want to play in the Outback Bowl.  Each year the bowl asks fans to vote for the SEC-Big Ten match-up they’d like to see play in Tampa’s New Year’s Day game by participating in the bowl’s Online Fan Poll at www.outbackbowl.com. “We like to get input from the fans and see who they are really excited about seeing in the game, provided they are available to us,” explains Mike Schulze, Outback Bowl Director of Communications & Sponsorships.

The Outback Bowl gets the third choice of teams from the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences.  There are currently eight teams from those two leagues ranked in the BCS Top 25.

Last year’s game featured a triple-overtime thriller between Michigan State and Georgia.

Teams are expected to be announced on Sunday, December 2.  This year’s game will be played on January 1st in Raymond James Stadium.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00PM ET.

Tickets to the bowl are available online through Ticketmaster, by calling 800-745-3000, or at Ticketmaster outlets throughout Florida.  Fans can get information on bowl events, area hotels and attractions, etc. at www.outbackbowl.com.

PENN STATE TO FACE FLORIDA IN 25TH ANNIVERSARY OUTBACK BOWL

Tampa, FL—The Penn State Nittany Lions and Florida Gators will square-off in the 25th Anniversary Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day, bowl officials announced yesterday. It will be only the third meeting between the two schools’ in history and the fourth appearance for both schools in the Outback Bowl. Penn State last played in the bowl against Tennessee in the 2007 game and Florida last played in Tampa in the 2006 game against Iowa.

“When you talk about tradition and history of college football it just doesn’t get any better than Penn State and the University of Florida,” said Outback Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay. “It’s our 25th anniversary game and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate it on New Year’s Day than with Coach Paterno’s Nittany Lions and Coach Urban Meyer’s Gators.”

“This team has worked hard all season and has been a great group to work with, stated Joe Paterno, who is in his 45th season as head coach and is the all-time leader in victories among major college coaches with a 401-133-3 (74.9) record. “I’m happy for the squad that their efforts will be rewarded with an opportunity to go to the Outback Bowl, where we have had some wonderful experiences, and be involved in a good, tough game. It will be fun to go back to the Tampa Bay area.”

"We are excited to hear that we are going to the Outback Bowl and play in another New Year’s Day game. We are proud of our history of playing in January Bowl games – not everyone gets to enjoy that experience,” adds Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer. “We’ve been fortunate around here to be in a bowl game for 20 consecutive years and I’ve told our players and staff to not take that for granted. This is a tremendous opportunity to continue to grow and develop as a football team, while having a week of hospitality in the great Gator city of Tampa. I have fond memories of my first bowl game at Florida in the 2006 Outback game. I remember the great job that Jim McVay and his staff did in hosting our football team. I want to thank Jim and the Outback Bowl Committee for inviting us back. We look forward to facing Penn State and one of the true legends in the game in Coach Joe Paterno. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Paterno and I will be honored to have the opportunity to coach in the same game as him."

“The Gators and Nittany Lions, this is a dream match-up between two of the most storied programs in all of college football,” adds Bowl Chairman Mitch Shriber. “This should be a great one!”

The Outback Bowl celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year and will be played on January 1st at 1:00 PM at Raymond James Stadium. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or 1-800-745-3000 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet in the state of Florida.

For information on priority seating through a bowl membership package call the Outback Bowl office directly at (813) 874-BOWL or go to the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com for details.

(Press Release from Outback Bowl)

Outback Bowl tickets on sale today

OUTBACK BOWL TICKETS GO ON SALE TODAY AT TICKETMASTER

Tampa, FL - Tickets to the 25th Anniversary Outback Bowl, the annual major college football post-season bowl game, go on sale to the general public today, October 1, at 10:00AM through Ticketmaster. The bowl plays host to teams from the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference on New Year’s Day in Raymond James Stadium. The Outback Bowl will kickoff at a new time, 1:00 P.M. ET, this year.

Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early as the game often sells out in advance. Tickets to the game are $70 each (plus Ticketmaster service charge). Phone orders can be placed with a credit card by calling Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or 1-800-745-3000 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet in the state of Florida.

For information on priority seating through a bowl membership package call the Outback Bowl office directly at (813) 874-BOWL or go to the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com for details.