Consumer electronics company Vizio has signed on as the rpesenmting sponsor for the Rose Bowl, ESPN announced today.
The deal, which runs through 2014, will see the yearly game called “The Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio,” and also incldues the 2014 BCS Championship, which will be called the “2014 VIZIO BCS National Championship Game.”
Terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed.
“Taking an enhanced and major stake in college football will give VIZIO significant new opportunities to connect with the college football fan,” said Ed Erhardt, President, ESPN Customer Marketing and Sales in a statement. “Together with the Tournament of Roses, we look forward to working with VIZIO to maximize their new sponsorship throughout the season and especially with the Rose Bowl Game itself.”
More information after the jump.
VIZIO to Serve as New Presenting Sponsor of the Rose Bowl Game
IRVINE, Calif., PASADENA, Calif., and BRISTOL, Conn. – VIZIO, the Tournament of Roses and ESPN announced today that a four-year agreement has been reached establishing VIZIO as the presenting sponsor of the Rose Bowl Game through 2014, as well as the title sponsor of the 2014 BCS National Championship Game. The Rose Bowl Game will be known as the “Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO” and the 2014 BCS National Championship game to be hosted by the Rose Bowl in Pasadena will be named the “2014 VIZIO BCS National Championship Game.”
The deal consists of the multi-media integration of VIZIO as part of ESPN’s season-long college football coverage, including a new game mark that will be incorporated into all Rose Bowl Game and BCS-related materials. VIZIO also secures logo rights for product packaging, and on-site integration for all Rose Bowl related events. VIZIO’s deal ensures the brand will be a part of the Rose Bowl Game’s 100th Anniversary celebrating an unprecedented milestone in college bowl game history.
“Sports fans, particularly football fans, are a critically important audience for our brand as it continues to grow and expand,” said Randy Waynick, VIZIO Chief Sales Officer. “Serving as presenting sponsor of the ‘Granddaddy of all Bowl Games’ provides a rare opportunity to reach a captive audience on New Year’s Day. It also provides tremendous marketing potential leading up to the game during the critical holiday buying season.”
VIZIO, America’s HDTV and Consumer Electronics Company, and ESPN have worked together since 2006. The brand is currently the official HD sponsor of SportsCenter and ESPN College Football and will maintain these positions throughout the term of the deal. VIZIO believes the agreement with the Tournament of Roses and ESPN will provide an even greater platform to promote its ever-expanding line of consumer electronic products.
Initiative was the media agency responsible for brokering the Rose Bowl agreement on behalf of VIZIO and has helped the brand develop several high visibility partnerships including Super Bowl VLIV, the Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2010 NHL Winter Classic. The Rose Bowl sponsorship represents the latest evolution in VIZIO’s sponsorship strategy.
“Since 1989 the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl Game have been proud partners with ESPN,” Executive Director Scott McKibben said. “We are thrilled VIZIO has signed on to sponsor The Granddaddy of Them All for the next four years and look forward to a successful future in promoting postseason college football at its finest.”
Added Ed Erhardt, President, ESPN Customer Marketing and Sales: “Taking an enhanced and major stake in college football will give VIZIO significant new opportunities to connect with the college football fan. Together with the Tournament of Roses, we look forward to working with VIZIO to maximize their new sponsorship throughout the season and especially with the Rose Bowl Game itself.”
The Rose Bowl Game is the oldest bowl agreement in college football between two major conferences, the Big Ten and the Pac-10. The game has been home to 17 Heisman Trophy winners, produced 29 national champions, featured 190 consensus All-Americans and honored 98 college football legends by inducting them into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. Outside of the BCS National Championship Game, the Rose Bowl Game continues to annually be the top-rated televised bowl game. In 2014, VIZIO’s partnership will share in another milestone for the Tournament of Roses as it hosts the 2014 VIZIO BCS National Championship Game and 100thRose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO in a newly renovated, iconic, Rose Bowl Stadium.
The Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO is one of five BCS Bowl games, which take place annually in four locations: South Florida, Pasadena, Calif., the Phoenix area and New Orleans. All five games will be televised on ESPN as part of a new agreement. The schedule for the BCS Bowl games on ESPN follows.
Sat, Jan 1 5 p.m. ET Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO ESPN / ESPN Radio 8:30 p.m. ET Tostitos Fiesta Bowl ESPN / ESPN Radio Mon, Jan 3 8:30 p.m. ET Discover Orange Bowl ESPN / ESPN Radio Tue, Jan 4 8:30 p.m. ET Allstate Sugar Bowl ESPN / ESPN Radio Mon, Jan 10 8:30 p.m. ET Tostitos BCS National Championship Game ESPN / ESPN Radio