Gallery: Vrbo Citrus Bowl - Jade Mallard

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Gallery: Vrbo Citrus Bowl

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Fun Facts: Camping World Bowl

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Image via Florida Citrus Sports

Image via Florida Citrus Sports

This year, Sports Marketing Perspective will be covering The Camping World Bowl taking place on December 28, 2019, at noon. To kick things off, we wanted to share some fun facts ahead of the 2019 Camping World Bowl in Orlando, FL.

Fun Facts

Image via Camping World Bowl

Image via Camping World Bowl

  • Started in 1990

  • Originally titled the Blockbuster Bowl with a marquee matchup between Penn State and Florida State

  • The first game (1990) drew more than 74,000 fans

  • Over the last five years, the bowl has averaged just shy of 55,000 fans per game

  • Within the new College Football Playoff era, the bowl sees top matchups from the ACC outside of the CFP series against the second selection from the Big 12 outside of the CFP series.

  • The 2019 Camping World Bowl game will feature Notre Dame vs. Iowa State

Title Names

The Camping World Bowl has seen many title names since its inception in 1990. In early 2017, Camping World signed an agreement with Florida Citrus Sports to be the new title sponsor through 2020. Here is a list of past title names.

  • Blockbuster Bowl (Miami), 1990-1993

  • Carquest Bowl (Miami), 1994-1997

  • Micronpc Bowl (Miami), 1998-1999

  • Micronpc.com Bowl (Miami), 2000

  • Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl, 2001

  • Mazda Tangerine Bowl, 2002-2003

  • Champs Sports Bowl, 2004-2011

  • Russel Athletic Bowl, 2012-2016

  • Camping World Bowl, 2017-2019

For attendance numbers for each game, click here.

Camping World Bowl | Florida Citrus Sports

Social Media Handles:

Twitter: @CWBowl | Facebook: @campingworldbowl | Instagram: @citrussports

Stay tuned for more updates as we cover your 2019 Camping World Bowl from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL.

2020 Pro Bowl Players Announced

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Image via Camping World Stadium

Image via Camping World Stadium

2020 PRO BOWL PLAYERS ANNOUNCED

PRO BOWL WEEK CULMINATES WITH AFC-NFC MATCHUP

AT CAMPING WORLD STADIUM IN ORLANDO ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 26

Orlando, FL – The NFL announced the AFC and NFC All-Stars for the 2020 Pro Bowl presented by Verizon, which kicks off at 3:00 PM ET on Sunday, January 26, and will be televised live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and simulcast on ABC and Disney XD – the third time the game will be available on both broadcast and cable networks.

The Pro Bowl players were determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counted one-third toward determining the 88 All-Star players who were selected to the Pro Bowl. The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches, and players to determine its All-Star teams. It was also the first professional sports league to offer online All-Star voting in 1995.

Thirty teams had at least one player selected to the 2020 Pro Bowl and 24 clubs had multiple players chosen as All-Stars. The BALTIMORE RAVENS, including second-year quarterback LAMAR JACKSON, placed a league-best 12 players on the Pro Bowl roster, while the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS led the NFC with seven players selected. The 2019 Ravens join the 2007 DALLAS COWBOYS (13 players) and 1973 MIAMI DOLPHINS (12) as the only teams to have at least 12 players selected to the Pro Bowl since 1970.

Twenty-five of the players selected to the Pro Bowl today are first-time All-Stars, including three rookies – defensive end NICK BOSA of the San Francisco 49ers, return specialist MECOLE HARDMAN of the Kansas City Chiefs and return specialist DEONTE HARRIS of the New Orleans Saints. 

The 2020 Pro Bowl coaching staff will be from the losing teams in the AFC and NFC Divisional playoffs with the best regular-season records.

Under terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each player on the winning Pro Bowl team receives $70,000, while each player on the losing squad earns $35,000.

Pro Bowl tickets start at just $45 and are on sale at NFL.com/ProBowlOnSale. Get Access to Awesome as fans in attendance can watch and cheer on the Pro Bowl players as they enter the stadium on the Pro Bowl Red Carpet, bringing them closer than ever to the NFL's All-Stars. Concession deals and "Kid Zone" activities will be available inside the stadium. Additionally, fans will be able to enjoy post-game fireworks to conclude the celebration.

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For more information and a full list of 2020 Pro Bowl Players, click HERE.

Social Media: https://twitter.com/NFL345

Practice Starts for FSU Ahead of Sun Bowl

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Image via Florida State Football

Image via Florida State Football

Sun Bowl preparation starts today as the Florida State Seminoles football team heads to the practice fields. It's been two weeks since the Florida State Football team ended their season with a 6-6 record, and the Seminoles look to increase their winning percentage against Arizona State at the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Image via FSU Football

Image via FSU Football

The Seminoles will face an Arizona State team that went 7-5 with their second season head coach, Herm Edwards. After starting 5-1 this season, ASU ranked as high as No. 17 in the country, pulling off victories against Michigan State and Cal. However, the Arizona State Sun Devils faced more adversity, losing four games in a row before pulling off big wins to end the season against Oregon and the Arizona Wildcats.

Florida State Bowl Practices

Led by interim head coach Odell Haggins, FSU will practice in Tallahasse through December 22, before their Christmas break. Coach Haggins will also lead the Seminoles through the bowl games, while newly acquired head coach Mike Norvell focuses on staffing and recruiting.

All coaches who led FSU during the regular season will coach through the bowl game, unless other programs hire them before December 31. Before today's first practice, Coach Haggins and players will meet with the media.

The Sun Bowl will air live on CBS Tuesday, December 31, at 2 p.m.

Darrell Armstrong to be Inducted Into Magic Hall of Fame

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Image via NBA

Image via NBA

DECEMBER 10, 2019 | ORLANDO, FL

The Orlando Magic will induct former guard and fan-favorite Darrell Armstrong into their Hall of Fame on Friday, February 21 at 4 p.m. in Amway Center, near the Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience**. Armstrong becomes the ninth inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.

Image via NBA

Image via NBA

In addition to the induction ceremony, Armstrong will be honored that night during Orlando’s game vs. Dallas. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. and tickets are available through OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX.

“During his nine seasons with the Orlando Magic, Darrell Armstrong gave everything he had to the organization, both on the court and in our community,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “Fans always look back fondly at our ‘Heart & Hustle’ era, and Darrell was the leader of that group that left it all on the court 20 years ago. We are thrilled to induct him into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.”

A true underdog story, Armstrong went undrafted in 1991 out of Fayetteville State University. He played professionally in several minor leagues, as well as overseas in Cyprus and Spain, before signing as a free agent with Orlando on April 8, 1995. Armstrong went on to spend 14 seasons playing in the NBA, including nine seasons with the Magic from 1995-2003.

“It is an honor to be recognized for the things I did in Orlando, and I am especially proud as a player who wasn’t drafted,” said Armstrong. “I am not only excited that the organization is rewarding me, but I am also thankful to the fans there as well. Magic fans always had my back and supported me. It is a great honor and I share this with them.”

Armstrong played in 502 regular season games with Orlando (291 starts), averaging 11.7 ppg., 5.1 apg., 3.3 rpg. and 1.65 stlpg. in 28.4 minpg., while shooting .888 (1,156-1,302) from the free throw line. During the 1998-99 campaign, he earned both the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, as well as the NBA’s Sixth Man Award. Armstrong became the first player in NBA history to win both honors during the same season.

Entering this season, Armstrong stood among the Orlando Magic all-time leaders in steals (second, 830), assists (third, 2,555), games played (fifth, 502), three-point field goals attempted (fifth, 1,892), minutes played (sixth, 14,234), three-point field goals made (sixth, 654), free throws made (eighth, 1,156), free throws attempted (ninth, 1,302), field goals made (tenth, 2,044), field goals attempted (tenth, 4,878) and points scored (tenth, 5,898).

Armstrong is also a two-time recipient (1998, 2000) of the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award, which recognizes a player’s efforts in the Central Florida community.

The Magic unveiled its inaugural Hall of Fame class on April 9, 2014, naming the first two inductees, Magic co-founder Pat Williams and the team’s first-ever draft pick and current community ambassador, Nick Anderson. In 2015, Shaquille O’Neal became the third member inducted, while Senior Chairman Rich DeVos joined the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2016. Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway and “founding father” Jimmy Hewitt were inducted in 2017, Tracy McGrady was honored in 2018 and longtime announcer David Steele was inducted last season.

The Orlando Magic Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the great players, coaches and executives who have had a major impact during the team’s illustrious 31-year history. The HOF bridges the past with the future of Magic basketball, and the exhibit, located in Amway Center on the terrace level near Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience, provides Magic fans an opportunity to learn some Magic history while in the building. The inductees are selected based on their overall on and off the court contributions to the team and organization, years of service, impact in the community and general character of the individual.

Source: Orlando Magic | NBA

Change Over Tradition - Nike x MLB 2020 Jerseys

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Image via Nike

Image via Nike

Can the slightest change make the most significant difference? The 2020 season marks the first on-field example of Nike's partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) being its official uniform provider. Announced in January, Nike is replacing Majestic as the in-game supplier and today unveiled the home jersey for every MLB team with a nice swoosh on the chest.

Image via Nike

Image via Nike

While some pure and long-time MLB fans have objected to the change, many do not seem bothered by the new look of the traditional pastime. Many sports leagues have adapted and embraced the idea of placing logos on their uniforms. The NBA has generated more than $150 million with its patch program since its creation in 2017. Sports leagues are finding that they have to adapt to the changes within the market to stay relevant and keep fans attention during live games and as fans watch remotely.

Hal Melhart, Sr. Product Line Manager for Nike Diamond, seems confident in Nike's ability to maintain the purity of the sports. Melhart states, "we're excited to kick off our partnership with Major League Baseball with the unveiling of next season's uniforms... Each franchise has a deeply personal history, with a visual identity that continues in this update. In the future, we look forward to preserving this integrity while still bringing more of Nike's creativity to uniform designs, as we build energy around the game for its players and its fans."

From My Perspective

Nike has always strived to push the button on design and innovation. With its agreement with MLB and Fanatics, I do not doubt that Nike may bring new technology and innovative marketing to the MLB to better engage long-time and new baseball fans, similar to their innovation with the NBA and NikeConnect jerseys. I see a lot of potential for all parties involved, as long as the MLB continues to adapt and change with the market.

Image via Nike

Image via Nike

Fun Facts: The Cure Bowl

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The Cure Bowl taking place on December 21, 2019. To kick things off, we wanted to share some fun facts ahead of the fifth annual FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl.

image Via The Cure Bowl

image Via The Cure Bowl

Fun Facts:

- This is the 5th Annual Cure Bowl

- The Cure Bowl was founded on March 28, 2008

- The Cure Bowl will be the first non-soccer sporting event and the first college football game to take place at Exploria Stadium, since its opening in March 2017.

- Prior to this year, Auto Nation was the title sponsor of the Cure Bowl

- Auto Nation Cure Bowl Facts:

2015
December 19, 2015
San Jose State 27 – Georgia State 16
Game MVP: San Jose State QB Kenny Potter

2016
December 17, 2016
Arkansas State 31 – UCF 13
Game MVP: Arkansas State WR Kendall Sanders

2017
December 16, 2017
Western Kentucky 17 – Georgia State 27
Game MVP: Georgia State QB Conner Manning

2018
December 15, 2018
Tulane 41 – Louisiana 24
Game MVP: Tulane RB Darius Bradwell

- The Cure Bowl is always played on the third Saturday in December each year in Orlando, FL. and is televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.

- Funds raised from the Cure Bowl directly benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

- Cure Bowl has an estimated $20 million positive impact on the local economy.

- Orlando is a top-20 television market with 1.4 million viewers; the adjacent Tampa market is ranked in the top 15 with 1.8 million viewers.

Exploria Stadium | Cure Bowl | Orlando Sports Foundation | Florida Citrus Sports

Stay tuned for more updates as we cover your 2019 Cure Bowl from Exploria Stadium.

Mike Norvell Is Florida State's New Head Coach

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Via Florida State Football

Via Florida State Football

After almost five weeks of anticipation, Florida State has finally filled the head coach position for its football program. After the announcement was made that Mike Norvell would be taking the job, many fans and former Florida State players had mixed feelings on the new-hire. However, Florida State seems to be embracing change and moving forward with a hopeful future.

In four seasons, Mike Norvell took a staggering Memphis program into unseen territory. Norvell helped Memphis (12-1) to its first AAC title in its third straight conference championship game. Eight days after beating Cincinnati 34-24 at home in their final regular-season game, Memphis pushed for another win, 29-24, on Saturday.

In a statement announcing his hiring at Florida State, Norvell said, "I'm humbled and honored for the opportunity to be the head coach at Florida State University, one of the iconic brands in college football... I'm so very excited about the future and the opportunity to return Florida State football to one of the nation's elite. I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running, putting together a great signing class, a great coaching staff, and joining arms with our current and former players to help elevate our football program each and every day."

Via Florida State

When Norvell took over at Memphis, he was one of the youngest head coaches in the country. Norvell, 38, replaces Willie Taggart, who was fired nine games into his second season at Florida State. Taggart was 9-12 in 21 games as FSU's coach.

Norvell was the offensive coordinator at Arizona State under Todd Graham before getting the head coaching job at Memphis and before that worked under Graham at Pittsburgh as the co-offensive coordinator and at Tulsa as the passing game coordinator.

Sources: The Associated Press, ESPN, and Florida State Football

Gallery: 2019 Florida Blue Florida Classic

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Bethune Cookman University (BCU) vs. Florida A&M University (FAMU).

BCU defeats FAMU 31-27 in the 40th installment of the Florida Classic (Orlando, FL.).

Gallery: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic

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Gallery: Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic Preseason Game

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adidas Unites Women Who Are Breaking Barriers in Sports

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Image via adidas

Image via adidas

August 19, 2019 | Portalndo, Oregon

As part of adidas’ She Breaks Barriers initiative, a collection of star female athletes shared their stories of struggle and success in a two-part broadcast called “Change in Play” debuting August 26 on Stadium digital sports network. The programming is meant to increase visibility of role models for women and girls in sport.

Stadium sports reporters and studio hosts Kristen Balboni and Amina Smith lead the in-depth dialogue with a roster of decorated athletes including three-time WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie, WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike, Olympic Hockey gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield, Olympic Volleyballbronze medalist Rachael Adams, UFC fighter Paige VanZant and NFL agent Nicole Lynn.

“Women in sports are continuing to do amazing things on and off the court, octagon and field. They’re speaking up, setting examples for young girls and playing with passion. I’m so excited that we’re able to recognize those incredible female athletes that need to share their stories with the world,” said Balboni.

Currently, only 4 percent of U.S. sports media coverage is dedicated to women, despite 84 percent of sports fans expressing an interest in women’s sports . The two-part special is another example of adidas’ commitment to leveling the playing field for women and girls in sport through the brand’s She Breaks Barriers initiative, which focuses on providing better access, removing gender stereotypes and creating visibility for female athletes at all levels and ages.

“In order to be her, you need to see her and right now the stark gap between men’s and women’s sports media coverage has created a lack of visible role models for women and young girls,” said Kelly Olmstead, adidas Vice President of Brand Activation. “Gathering these amazing athletes to share their stories will help inspire the next generation of athletes, whether it’s getting them started or keeping them going.”

The roundtable discussions aim to encourage women to pursue their sports passions by sharing stories they can relate to through world-class athletes. “We’re focused on creating an inclusive future for female athletes and this programming, in partnership with Stadium, highlights our commitment to create that change,” said Olmstead.

Stadium, the 24/7 multi-platform sports network, is committed to increasing its coverage of women’s sports beyond its 1,500 NCAA women’s events annually. The special will air on its digital and social networks; Stadium over-the-air channels, WatchStadium.com and TV streaming services. Since launching in late 2017, Stadium has grown to over 60 million monthly views across all screens with a slate of live games and original programming.

The first discussion will air on Monday, August 26 at 8:00 p.m. EST, followed by the second episode debuting Tuesday, September 3 at 8:00 p.m. EST on Stadium digital sports network.

Tune into the livestream at http://watchstadium.com/ and join the movement to help increase visibility and coverage for women’s sports by utilizing a template petition on the adidas She Breaks Barriers website to connect with your local sports and news networks.

Join the conversation on Instagram via @adidas and @adidasWomen.

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She Breaks Barriers Initiative
Since launching in December 2018, the She Breaks Barriers initiative has supported professional athletes, identified barriers and co-created solutions in partnership with communities and grassroots programs. In March, adidas launched @3StripeLive, the first-ever globally live-streamed series of girl’s grassroots sports on Twitter. The broadcasts have received more than 6M video views to date, and three more episodes are scheduled for this year. adidas also partnered with the Global Sport Institute (GSI) at Arizona State University to identify existing barriers to sport for women, examine how to overcome the barriers and explore what these mean for women in sport.

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About adidas
adidas is a global designer and developer of athletic and lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the best sports brand in the world. As an innovation and design leader, adidas engineers the best in high-performance products to make athletes better, faster and stronger and creates a range of classic and fresh lifestyle and high-fashion lines.

About Stadium
Stadium is the original multi-platform sports network featuring exclusive live and on-demand games and events, extensive highlights, classic games, original programming, and daily live studio programming. Stadium includes a 24/7 linear feed distributed across both digital and broadcast platforms, as well as a comprehensive array of on-demand (VOD) digital content including additional live games and events. Stadium is owned by a collection of industry leaders including Sinclair Broadcast Group, BAMTech, the NHL, the PGA TOUR, and Meredith Corp. To learn more, visit: http://watchstadium.com/