How Ad Sponsorships Have Ruined Everything

As someone in the advertising business, I’m a little more sensitive to ads than the average person—more willing to accept them because I know without them, I (and a lot of other ad folks) would be unemployed.

But enough is enough already!

College Football. My favorite sports league has gotten completely out of control with their annual end-of-season bowl games. The NFL has the Super Bowl. It’s just the Super Bowl. Not the Jerkwater Widget Maker Super Bowl.

Here’s a list of some of the current Bowl games. These Bowl Games have taken on big-name sponsors, but at least retained their original name:

Currently: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Formerly known as: New Orleans Bowl

Currently: Walk-On’s Independence Bowl
Formerly know as: Independence Bowl

Currently: Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Formerly know as: Music City Bowl

Currently: San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
Formerly know as: Holiday Bowl

Currently: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Formerly know as: Gator Bowl

Those aren’t too bad, but take a look at some of the new College Bowl Games the NCAA created for the sake of the almighty ad-dollar:

• Redbox Bowl
• Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
• Cheez-It Bowl
• Belk Bowl
• NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl
• Camping World Bowl
• Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl
• Cheez-It Bowl (yes, I know. But it’s so bad that it’s worth repeating)
• Quick Lane Bowl
• SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
• Dollar General Bowl
• Birmingham Bowl (so bad, they couldn’t even get a sponsor)
• Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
• Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
• DXL Frisco Bowl
• Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
• AutoNation Cure Bowl

I can’t even imagine the embarrassment the players must feel when they tell friends and family that their hard-fought winning season is being rewarded with a trip to the Cheez-It Bowl.

And then there’s this…

The Outback Bowl and Citrus Bowl apparently either don’t have a sponsor, or don’t allow them to put their name in the title of the Bowl Game.

The Rose Bowl, the “Grandaddy of Them All,” isn’t above taking a buck or two from anyone, but insist that the name “Rose Bowl” remain in the lead of the new name: Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual.

Unfortunately, just when you’re willing to accept that your favorite Bowl Game has a sponsor with deep pockets, they change sponsors on you. For years I called the local Bowl Game “The Sunkist Fiesta Bowl.” It took years for me to call it the “Tostidos Fiesta Bowl” when they changed sponsors. Now it’s the “PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.”

ENOUGH ALREADY! I’m done. I’m going to join my wife in enjoying a bowl of Geico Car Insurance, Inc. 15% Savings soup.