Indianapolis-based sports bar chain Stacked Pickle is considering a location in the Chicago suburb Elk Grove Village, and it is in large part because the owner/CEO "took note of the town's sponsorship of the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl," according to Christopher Placek of the Chicago DAILY HERALD. If the sports bar eventually lands in Elk Grove, it would be the "first tangible new business opening as a result of the municipality's unconventional sponsorship of the Dec. 21 college football game in Nassau, Bahamas." The village paid ESPN $300,000 to sponsor the game. Stacked Pickle Owner & CEO Gary Brackett, who is also a former NFLer, "hasn't yet spoken to officials in Elk Grove." However, Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson said that he would "welcome the conversation." He added, "This is exactly what we had envisioned in getting Elk Grove's name out there." Officials will present "marketing data and statistics about the bowl game sponsorship during a village board meeting next Tuesday, in advance of a Feb. 26 decision on whether to sponsor the game again this year." Officials have until March 1 to decide, "per the agreement with ESPN" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 2/6).
