Sitting in Macaroni Grill Saturday night three times people stopped by and asked the same basic question, “Is it true Little Rock might really get a bowl?”
The answer is yes, with a solid maybe. And it would be the state of Arkansas’ bowl, because if it’s not, it probably won’t work.
Pieces of the puzzle are in the process of being assembled, but it would still take an all-out effort to make it a reality. The truth is, the bowl would need, in my humble opinion, six years of financial assurance.
Otherwise, it could be an embarrassment to the state.
No one wants to turn on a bowl game with 6,000 people in the stands of War Memorial Stadium. It wouldn’t last more than four years.
It will take some great business minds to figure all of that out. Initial inquiries and steps are tentative.
Jon Steinbrecher, Mid-American Conference commissioner, and Karl Benson, Sun Belt commissioner, met last week with some of the state’s movers and shakers, and it appears they are ready to agree to having members of their conferences play each other in War Memorial starting in 2014.
Most likely it would be the fourth- or fifth-place team from the Mid-American against the closest geographical opponent from the Sun Belt.
No, it would not be a bowl exclusively for Arkansas State, but there is no doubt with its growing fan base and recent success the Red Wolves would be a very appealing team the first year or two.
Steinbrecher and Benson are in contact with media outlets such as ESPN and Fox for a television contract.
Once that is guaranteed, a major sponsor would need to be secured; rumor is Riceland Foods, based in Stuttgart but an international company might be interested.
Arkansas Riceland Rice Bowl and the slogan “Arkansas’ Time to Shine” were mentioned in last week’s meeting at War Memorial Stadium. But it is premature to assume Riceland will jump on a sponsorship that would require a minimum of $300,000 with a dream of $500,000.
Next, the two conferences would have to commit to $250,000 each.
Then you are getting close to the numbers; more sponsorships would have to be obtained, and, to be quite honest, it was the same names that always come up that were talked about last week.
An executive director and marketing representative would have to be hired and office space secured before the next round of sponsors could be sought.
It is believed that UALR Athletic Director Chris Peterson would be willing to take a shot on leading the bowl. Peterson has been the driving force behind a bowl in central Arkansas for several years.
One great idea to come out of last week’s meeting was raised by Kevin Crass, who is the head of the War Memorial Commission. Crass said the bowl could be marketed around War Memorial’s reputation as being the site of the world’s greatest tailgating. Over the years, War Memorial Golf Course has provided some of the best pre-, and post-game celebrations in all of college football.
Locally, there is plenty to do for teams, starting with visits to the Clinton Presidential Center and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Teams could also spend an afternoon lifting spirits at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, or the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital (or one for each team) and much more.
So, there is no definitive answer to the question, “Is Arkansas going to get a bowl game?”
There are still many questions to be answered, and be assured the group that met last week will do the due diligence necessary.
No one wants to start something we can’t finish.
Sports, Pages 19 on 06/19/2013