Camping World Chair & CEO Marcus Lemonis over the weekend tweeted that his company would serve as the "new title sponsor" of the Independence Bowl, according to Roy Lang III of the SHREVEPORT TIMES. Bowl game Exec Dir Missy Setters would not confirm that, saying only officials "hope to have an announcement soon regarding our title sponsor search." Lang reports the possible addition of Camping World, which also title sponsors the NASCAR Truck series, gives the Independence Bowl "plenty of momentum following a rocky 2014." The game has lost nearly $1.5M "over the past two years and ended a strange relationship with Duck Commander, the title sponsor of last year’s contest, after one year.” A proposed “occupancy tax that would have been worth about $750,000 a year to the bowl failed at the polls.” The tax has since been "modified to net the I-Bowl nearly $600,000” and will be “back on the ballot this fall.” Search firm Impression Sports & Entertainment was “responsible for cultivating" potential new title sponsors (SHREVEPORT TIMES, 7/9).
