Some city council members plan to vote against paying ESPN a fee to keep the game in Dallasgetty images
A "protracted fight" over whether the city of Dallas will give ESPN $300,000 to keep the Heart of Dallas Bowl at the Cotton Bowl for two more years has "gone into overtime" after the city council decided to move the vote on the matter to Sept. 12, according to Robert Wilonsky of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Originally scheduled for yesterday, the vote "required approval from three-quarters of the 15-member council." But four members said that they "were going to vote against" giving the network, which runs the game, "any money." City Council member Philip Kingston said the game -- which pits teams from the Conference USA, Big Ten and Big 12 -- is a "crime against the bowl system." Several council members "tried to persuade their colleagues to support the deal." Some touted it as a "relatively small investment to make for four hours' worth of national exposure on ESPN the day after Christmas." Dallas Dir of Parks & Recreation Willis Winters said there will "still be a game at the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 26 regardless." But a '19 game is "unlikely." If the city council voted against the item, Heart of Dallas Bowl Exec Dir Brant Ringler, who is also an ESPN employee, said that they "would have to discuss options with city officials." Dallas Sports Commission Exec Dir Monica Paul said that she is "concerned that if the council votes against the incentive, ESPN will simply take the game elsewhere -- like Austin, which wants a bowl game" (DALLASNEWS.com, 8/8).
