Football: Gridiron Bash This Spring
West Virginia University and New York City-based MSL Sports and Entertainment, in association with Nelligan Sports Marketing, today announced that the university will host Gridiron Bash™ The Ultimate Fan Competition™ the day before the Annual Gold-Blue Spring Game.
The event -- the first of its kind at Milan Puskar Stadium -- will take place during the afternoon and evening of April 18 and include a live performance by multiple Grammy® Award winner and entertainer Dwight Yoakam, as well as a giant pep rally introducing the team with remarks from Head Coach Bill Stewart and select players.
“Similar to the excitement surrounding Midnight Madness, there’s also excitement around football in the spring, when schools hold practices and Spring Games to showcase the upcoming team,” says Ed Pastilong, Director of Athletics at West Virginia University, which is one of about 20 Division I universities nationwide selected by MSL (the event’s creator and producer) to serve as a Gridiron Bash host site. “Thousands of spectators come out each spring to watch our spring game, but that’s typically where the ‘fan experience’ ends. Gridiron Bash extends the experience and enables fans to support their team, give back to their university and have a great time doing so.”
In total, Gridiron Bash™ is expected to bring participating universities in 2008 an estimated $12 million resulting from gate and merchandise revenue, as well as the opportunity to raise funds through parking, food and beverage sales.
At the core of Gridiron Bash™ is a fan contest --The USA TODAY Bash for Cash Series™ -- that will establish which of the participating schools has the most passionate and supportive fans. The USA TODAY Bash for Cash Series™ winners will be determined by adding up the total attendance at the Gridiron Bash™ event and combining that with the number of fans who text/call in to vote for their school. MSL projects total attendance to be about 1 million.
The USA TODAY Bash for Cash Series™ winning university will receive a $1 million contribution to their General Scholarship fund, with 2nd and 3rd place schools receiving $500,000 and $250,000 respectively. Presentation of the winning schools will be aired live in conjunction with a soon-to-be-announced national television partner.
“We’re thrilled to bring Gridiron Bash to West Virginia University. The event will set a new tradition around spring football and feed the appetite of fans looking to be involved with the program beyond the season,” says Shawn Garrity, president of MSL Sports and Entertainment and a former linebacker at Syracuse. “Gridiron Bash truly is the ultimate fan competition. It offers fans the ideal opportunity to give back to the universities.”
Gridiron Bash™ will mark the first time that West Virginia University has opened up Milan Puskar Stadium for a concert performance.
For more information please visit www.gridironbash.com.
Dwight Yoakam will appear in support of Dwight Sings Buck, a one-of-a-kind new album honoring the legendary Buck Owens. The album is available as both a CD and a Limited Edition 180 gram vinyl record, from New West Records. For more information on Dwight Yoakam, including his recently debuted Route23 fan club.
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