BitPay and ESPN Events both confirmed that the Bitcoin processor will no longer title sponsor the college bowl game in St. Petersburg. The '14 game was called the Bitcoin Bowl under what was originally a three-year deal, but BitPay and ESPN Events said that they had mutually decided to rebrand the game. Both declined further comment. The game's website reflects the change, referring now to the "St. Petersburg Bowl." The split was first reported by ESPN's Brett McMurphy on Twitter (Preston Bounds, Staff Writer). In Tampa, Sean Daly noted Bitcoin joins magicJack and Beef 'O' Brady's as former title sponsors for the seven-year-old bowl game. Despite some "potential positives, bitcoin is suffering just as many negatives these days," and the "bowl breakup with ESPN could be because of that." The e-currency has been "linked to nefarious pursuits such as online gambling and drug purchases." Bitcoin usage also has "been stagnant lately, with its worth plummeting" (TAMPABAY.com, 4/2). YAHOO SPORTS' Nick Bromberg noted Bitcoin is the "second new-in-2014 bowl sponsor to not return for 2015," following Duck Commander leaving the Independence Bowl. That game was "not played with a sponsorship contract and the name of the company was used as an attempt to leverage other companies into sponsorship agreements with the bowl" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/2).
