OPENING KICKOFF As the calendar hits November, we continue to prepare for the upcoming Bowl Season. The Fiesta Bowl Organization’s commitment throughout the year has been dedicated to our mission, which is to create a positive economic impact for Arizona and focus on the community. Staying that course, and with our “Why” at the heart of our actions, the Bowl is well-prepared for this swell of activity that we’re having in the final quarter of the year.
FIESTA BOWL ORGANIZATION NEWSLETTER
We have started a new progressive raffle that gives a payout to Arizona residents and helps fund nonprofit organizations, promoted diversity with new scholarships for minority students, staged a sold out golf tournament that helps fund our charitable giving, gave away 50,000 masks to educators, provided grants for Arizona’s K-12 teachers to increase classroom resources and prepared to manage two postseason college football games as part of Bowl Season. There is also a new event we have started to help our nonprofit partners fundraise while the Fiesta Bowl manages the logistics. You can read more about the Community Golf Classic later in the newsletter. Because of that commitment to our community, we have been able to add some new sponsors and expanded our partnership with others, such as Guaranteed Rate, Desert Financial Credit Union, PNC Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Arizona Lottery. Thank you to all our partners! While we aren’t sure exactly how many fans we will host for the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl, we will provide a firstclass experience for our guests and deliver on our promise to enhance the community where we live, work and play.
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Mike Nealy Executive Director
NEWS & NOTES Guaranteed Rate Joins as New Title Partner for Guaranteed Rate Bowl With college football Bowl Season coming soon, Guaranteed Rate has joined with the Fiesta Bowl Organization to become title sponsor of the newly-named Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Formerly known as the Cactus Bowl, this is the only postseason matchup between members of the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences. Guaranteed Rate, one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the United States, will be the game’s exclusive financial partner, including mortgages, home loans and home buying categories. In addition to naming rights, Guaranteed Rate’s fully-integrated partnership includes digital and social media, content, in-stadium exposure, on-site activation at the game and television advertisements in the exclusive live broadcast window on ESPN and ESPN Radio. Follow the Guaranteed Rate Bowl through social media on Twitter (@RateBowl), Instagram (@GuaranteedRateBowl) and Facebook (@GuaranteedRateBowl), and connect with Guaranteed Rate at Rate.com.
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Rolling along is the Fiesta Bowl’s Her Hidden Highness presented by Arizona Lottery progressive 50/50 raffle. The jackpot is over $8,000 and continues to grow each week, as the Queen of Hearts is still hidden. In addition to the jackpot, there are weekly payouts of 15 percent of the weekly sales. There are various tickets levels to increase chances to win by visiting FiestaBowlRaffle.com to play, ante up to win and support Fiesta Bowl Charities. The first of its kind by an Arizona sports property, similar raffles across the county have seen multi-million dollar payouts. Half of the entry pool benefits Fiesta Bowl Charities, which supports Arizona nonprofit organizations in the areas of youth, sports and education. Through its two annual bowl games in the Valley, the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl and the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, as well as community events throughout the year, Fiesta Bowl Charities has given more than $16.5 million across the state of Arizona in the last nine years, including $4 million in 2019-20 year alone. PLAY TODAY!
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YOUR WISH WILL BE GRANTED The wishes are in for the fifth annual Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program and golden apples are set to be delivered. Building on $3.2 million in grants given to Arizona teachers over the first four years, Draft Day will be held on November 10. The 200 K-12 public and charter school teachers will learn their wish has been granted in a virtual format, each receiving a $2,500 classroom grant. Visit WishesForTeachers.org for more information and to view the wishes. In years past, wishes have included technology, classroom equipment, field trips, creating libraries and even to purchase eyeglasses for students who needed them but could not afford them. Desert Financial Credit Union was founded by 15 Arizona educators with $78.75 in 1939, and has been an active supporter in the Wishes for Teachers program for several years.
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NEWS & NOTES POD IT UP We hope you haven’t missed the distinguished roster of guests on the Fiesta Bowl Football Focus Podcast. Next up is a visit with Oregon State Head Coach Jonathan Smith, who also served as quarterback in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl when the Beavers overpowered Notre Dame, 41-9. Two of the most respected college athletics administers in the country in Oklahoma Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte were recent guests. While their schools may be rivals, they are close longtime friends who share common values and funny stories. Enjoy our series-long conversations with 2019 Arizona Bank & Trust Kickoff Luncheon speaker Urban Meyer, College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock, College Football Hall of Fame coach Mack Brown, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, longtime Ohio State and Arizona State Athletics Director Gene Smith and key players from the classic 2003 Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Miami. Go to iTunes, Google Play or Spotify on your phone and search for FIESTA BOWL FOOTBALL FOCUS or click here to subscribe and listen to the conversations with some of college football’s finest. SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Supporting Arizona’s Nonprofits Through Golf New this year to assist Arizona nonprofits in their fundraising efforts, the Fiesta Bowl Community Golf Classic is a one-of-a-kind tournament that uses our events experience to stage an event where charities keep the proceeds. Talk about a win-win: nonprofits raise much-needed dollars, while leaving operational logistics to the Fiesta Bowl. It’s that easy. Nonprofits often times don’t have the resources they need to manage a golf tournament but have a need for fundraising. The Fiesta Bowl will shoulder the operational side and associated up-front expenses, which allows charities to sell foursomes and keep the money for their needs. All nonprofits and their guests have to do is show up for their golf round, enjoy and hopefully win prizes. Held on December 7-8 at the picturesque Short Course at Mountain Shadows, there are four individual rounds (two per day), where foursomes will compete in a scramble format for big-time prizes. Visit here for more information and to enroll your nonprofit organization. LEARN MORE PG 4
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Kickoff Set
FOR GUARANTEED RATE BOWL Saturday, December 26, 2020 8:15 pm MST | Chase Field
With a new title sponsor and a new conference matchup starting in 2020, the date and time of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl has been determined. Representatives from the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences will face off on Saturday, December 26, at 8:15 pm MST in downtown Phoenix. Two of college football’s most successful conferences, the Big Ten and Big 12 faced off in the Bowl eight times from 2006-13. The Guaranteed Rate Bowl’s three most-attended
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games featured Big Ten/Big 12 pairings, including the 2011 contest when Iowa and Oklahoma played before a Bowl-record 54,247 fans. A reminder that the 50th Anniversary of the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl will be played on Saturday, January 2, 2021, at 2 pm, at State Farm Stadium. Matchups for the two games will be announced on Sunday, December 20.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
DAvINA SEVILLE Sales Representative, Nobile Tile Supply First Year as Volunteer: 2013 First Year as Yellow Jacket Committee Member: 2017 Favorite Fiesta Bowl Game: When UCF defeated Baylor (which was favored to win by 16½ points) in 2014, becoming the biggest underdog victors in BCS history. It was a very exciting game!
things are good for us, we need to make them better for others, and volunteering allows me to do that. My life is more fulfilled and enriched by volunteering, and I know for a fact that we are making a difference, and making this world a better place.
Most Memorable Moment: Meeting Ben Vereen while hosting a VIP Suite at the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, and getting him hot tea before he performed the National Anthem for the game.
Favorite Job: I had the honor of being chair for the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade Grand Marshal Breakfast this year, in which we hosted the five female Arizona trailblazers named the Parade Grand Marshals. It was fun to plan and decorate the room, show our hospitality and roll out the red carpet to make them feel like VIPs.
Why I Serve the Fiesta Bowl: Volunteering gets me out of my box, and I get to see, first hand, how the money we raise goes directly back to our community. When
Interesting fact: I perform Flamenco dancing and play the saxophone, flute, piccolo and oboe. And I collect Wonder Woman souvenirs.
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NEWSWORTHY
Fiesta Bowl 50th anniversary: From Bowl Coalition to Bowl Alliance to BCS in 1990s ARIZONA REPUBLIC
Fiesta Bowl mascot Spirit passes out masks to teachers ARIZONA’S FAMILY 3TV
FIESTA BOWL WISHES FOR TEACHERS FOX10 PHOENIX
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How a New Bowl Sponsorship Came Together During a Pandemic SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
TEACHER FEATURE: MICHAEL SCHMIDT FIESTABOWL.ORG
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Fiesta Bowl Announce Diversity Scholarship Winners FRONTDOORS
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