Citizens Bank may choose to change name of '19 bowl since Franklin American Mortgage no longer existsgetty images
Franklin American Mortgage's title sponsorship of the Music City Bowl "will end" in '19 following Citizens Bank's acquisition of the mortgage company in August, according to Mike Organ of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. Citizens Bank is "contractually obligated to remain the title sponsor" for the game this year and in '19, but "may choose to change the name of the bowl since Franklin American Mortgage is no longer in existence." Citizens Bank officials "have given bowl officials the go-ahead to find a new title sponsor" beyond '19. Citizens Bank is "interested in remaining involved in the sponsorship of the bowl in some capacity, but not at such a high level." Music City Bowl President & CEO Scott Ramsey said his team is "in the marketplace right now and starting to look" for a new title sponsor. Franklin American Mortgage "took over as the bowl's title sponsor from Gaylord Hotels" in '10 (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/18).
JOB WELL DONE: In Las Vegas, Alan Snel noted Mitsubishi Motors’ presence at Saturday's Las Vegas Bowl as the title sponsor "was a major splash for the car manufacturer." Under the first year of a two-year deal with ESPN, Mitsubishi "practically had a mini dealership at Sam Boyd Stadium with no less than 19 vehicles on site." A fan who "entered a Mitsubishi sweepstakes online won a contest to sit on a platform on the field that also showcased the Outlander model on the sidelines in a corner of the field." Mitsubishi Motors Senior Dir & CMO Francine Harsini said that the company "brought 300 of its dealers to Las Vegas, and those 300 brought another 150 guests." Harsini said that under the title sponsorship, Mitsubishi "received 200 tickets and purchased another 200 and have two full sections." There was also a "large Mitsubishi Motors social tent behind one of the end zones, while the company name and log appeared on the field at the 25-yard lines" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 12/15).
