Camping World on Friday "parted ways" as title sponsor of the Independence Bowl after two years, as the two sides were "unable to reach an agreement" for the '17 game and beyond, according to Roy Lang III of the SHREVEPORT TIMES. Camping World "took advantage of the 'look-in' clause before a third year." Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis wanted Camping World to "remain as the game’s title sponsor, but reduced his offer," which was "rejected unanimously" by the event's executive committee. Lemonis: "I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t totally bummed. Our concerns were not with the attendance at the game itself, but the TV ratings and the overall experience we think existed there." Independence Bowl Chair Eric Barkley said that game officials "felt a new title sponsor search was the better option." Barkley said, "We’re confident we can find another, and that the bowl will go on." Lang noted Camping World is the seventh brand to depart since the game first took on a title sponsor in '90. Lemonis also "questioned the use of the monies collected by the I-Bowl" in '16. He said, "The hotel tax passed; the committee got a big check from that. I didn’t see that money show up anywhere. The experience didn’t change year over year. In Year 1, they only got $700,000 from us. In Year 2, they got $900,000 from us and $500,000 from the city (through the tax). I didn’t see the experience change at all -- nothing." But Barkley said, "We tried things this year -- food trucks on the east side, ice skating afterward and a craft crawl." Meanwhile, Camping World will "continue to invest in college athletics" (SHREVEPORT TIMES, 1/21).
