Elk Grove Village, Ill., officials are "making final preparations on promotional and advertising efforts ahead of the village's unconventional sponsorship of a college football bowl game in The Bahamas," the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl -- which "uses Elk Grove's business marketing tagline," according to Christopher Placek of the Chicago DAILY HERALD. Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson "just signed off on the design of 'Makers Wanted Elk Grove Village Illinois' logos that will be placed on the 25-yard lines of the field." The "Makers Wanted" slogan will be "nestled in between two palm trees as part of the bowl game logo on the 50-yard line." Locally on cable TV, Elk Grove "promoted its bowl game sponsorship as part of a new set of commercials touting the industrial park." Crews are also "set to drape large banners with the bowl game logo on the side of village hall and the public works building" in Elk Grove. The intent is to "gain some national -- even international -- exposure, when curious bowl game watchers search online for 'Makers Wanted' and are directed to the village's business promotional website." In the lead-up to gameday, the village's marketing campaign also "includes targeted online ads and email blasts to business owners across the country who have some previous connection to college sports" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/29).
RENTAL PROPERTY: Travel site VRBO has reached a deal with ESPN and Florida Citrus Sports to become title sponsor of the VRBO Citrus Bowl in Orlando. The game will take place on Jan. 1 at Camping World Stadium with teams from the SEC and Big Ten. VRBO replaces Overton's, which sponsored the '18 edition of the game. Other past title sponsors include Buffalo Wild Wings and Capital One (THE DAILY).
