R&L Carriers Inks Three-Year Renewal Of New Orleans Bowl Pact

Trucking company R&L Carriers, which has title sponsored the New Orleans Bowl since '06, "signed a three-year sponsorship renewal Monday," according to Tammy Nunez of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Terms were not disclosed. New Orleans Bowl Exec Dir Billy Ferrante said, "I think it shows we are a proven value to sponsors, especially in times when it could be an easy out for them to say 'the economy.' Gas prices have had a significant impact on them." Ferrante also maintained that the "seven months of negotiations for the renewal weren't about if R&L would renew its sponsorship, but when." Bowl officials said that ESPN will televise the game in '09, "staying with a Sunday night slot." This year's game will be played December 20 at 7:15pm CT (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 4/21).

SAVE THE DATES: The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl for the third straight year will be played on December 31st at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The kickoff time is still to be determined (Armed Forces Bowl)....The eighth annual Emerald Bowl will be played December 26 at 5:00pm PT at AT&T Park and will be televised by ESPN (Emerald Bowl).