Meineke Bowl increases payout to $1M, keeps Saturday date

[GarySJ]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3350314&campaign=rss&source=NCFHeadlines

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Meineke Bowl is keeping its coveted Saturday date.

Bowl officials said Wednesday that this year's game will be played at 1 p.m. Dec. 27. ESPN will televise the game.

The bowl is played at Bank of America Stadium and pits a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference against a Big East school. Wake Forest beat Connecticut 24-10 last year.

The bowl is managed by Raycom Sports and has averaged more than 60,000 fans in its six years, including two sellouts.

The bowl's payout next year will increase to $1 million per team, up from $750,000.

[Mag Pie]

I really enjoyed the MCCB, it was such a disappointment to go to the PPJ.com bowl the following year...and then besides the whole game thing, I really enjoyed the SunBowl experience.

[BullBlood]

I think this year's MCCB will not include a BE team since UCONN went there last year (and lost).  It was a great bowl.  Would love to get another crack at that one.

[SANJAY]

Want to go to Miami, or New Orleans.  B-C-S

[Joe]

The MCCB will have a BE team

[Guest]

I think this year's MCCB will not include a BE team since UCONN went there last year (and lost).  It was a great bowl.  Would love to get another crack at that one.

Actually, the Big East will send a rep there... MCCB does not have another tie-in (yet) for this year.

---

Here is the MCCB Press Release:

2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl Will Be Played On Saturday, December 27

Game Set for 1:00 p.m. Kickoff, Televised on ESPN

Charlotte, N.C. – The 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl will take place on Saturday, December 27, 2008, with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff, televised nationally on ESPN, it was announced today by Raycom Sports, owner and operator of the game. The Meineke Car Care Bowl, with a $1 million payout per team, features a matchup of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East Conference. The game is played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

“We are extremely pleased to be playing the 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl on Saturday, December 27,†said executive director Will Webb. “The prime Saturday afternoon kickoff has been an ideal time slot for us and produced great ratings for ESPN. This year, it will allow fans to travel in after Christmas and still attend the RBC Bank Street Festival & Pep Rally on Friday.â€Â

“The Meineke Car Care Bowl continues to be a tremendous success for the city of Charlotte and everyone involved with the game,†added Webb. “And in this economic climate, we are very fortunate to have a committed local company in Meineke Car Care Centers as the title sponsor.â€Â

The Meineke Car Care Bowl has averaged over 60,000 fans during its first six years, with two sellouts. It has reached over 13.5 million television households. In 2003, it was named one of the five-best start-ups in sports over the past five years by the Sports Business Journal, behind only the NFL Houston Texans and ESPN the Magazine.

The inaugural game, played on December 28, 2002 before a sold-out stadium, saw Virginia defeat West Virginia, 48-22. On December 27, 2003, Virginia once again claimed victory, this time over Pittsburgh, 23-16. The third year again produced a sellout, as Boston College defeated North Carolina, 37-24, on December 30, 2004. NC State defeated South Florida, 14-0, on December 31, 2005. Boston College defeated Navy 25-24, on a field goal as time expired on December 30, 2006. And last year, Wake Forest defeated UConn, 24-10 on December 29, 2007.

For more information, please visit www.meinekecarcarebowl.com.

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[BullBlood]

glad to hear that BE will be in charlotte again next year (or is it this year?).  I thought they had a tie-in similar to the gator where the BE gets 2 out of 4.  Thanks for clearing it up.

Still hoping ND is bowl ineligible again.  Wouldn't that be awesome.

[USF_Grouper]

glad to hear that BE will be in charlotte again next year (or is it this year?).  I thought they had a tie-in similar to the gator where the BE gets 2 out of 4.  Thanks for clearing it up.

Still hoping ND is bowl ineligible again.  Wouldn't that be awesome.

They had some one year thing where they got to take Navy, but it was just for that one year I think.

[Guest]

glad to hear that BE will be in charlotte again next year (or is it this year?).  I thought they had a tie-in similar to the gator where the BE gets 2 out of 4.  Thanks for clearing it up.

Still hoping ND is bowl ineligible again.  Wouldn't that be awesome.

They had some one year thing where they got to take Navy, but it was just for that one year I think.

Correct. A one-year contract with Navy.  Believe it or not, they had the same one-year deal with Army last year.

Also, it's possible (if unlikely) the MCCB could take ND as its Big East team... in that respect, the MCCB has a similar arrangement to all Big East bowls.

Heck, a 6-6 Notre Dame could (technically) play in Toronto!

[crambone]

I <3 Charlotte!