How Atlanta Became the Capital of College Football

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 150 YEARS COLLEGE FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 150 YEARS

As college football celebrates its sesquicentennial (150th!) season in 2019, The NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION (NFF) & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME have worked to create a jam-packed calendar of activities to pay homage to the sport and its legacy: creating educational opportunities, building leaders and enriching communities. Take a look through some of the organizations that are sharing in the celebration of this historic milestone throughout the season.

Georgia itself is the fourth most-fertile recruiting ground in the nation in How terms of putting football talent on Division One rosters. From high-caliber matchups to open the season at the Chick-fil-A Atlanta Kickoff Game, to decades of classic Chick-fil-A Peach Bowls, memorable SEC Championship Game show- downs, and the top annual HBCU Became the game of the year, Atlanta hosts some of the sport’s biggest games every year. Last season alone saw three sold Capital of out top-10 matchups including the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Septem- ber (No. 6 Washington vs. No. 9 Auburn), the SEC Championship College Game in December (No. 4 Georgia CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL vs. No. 1 Alabama) and the Chick-fil- Florida defeated Michigan 41-15 in a battle of top-10 teams in the 2018 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. A Peach Bowl (No. 10 Florida vs. No. 7 Michigan). Football That’s why the majority of the SEC “Last year, three of the top six The obvious. and ACC teams’ biggest alumni events in Atlanta were college foot- In no other city is college football bases live in Atlanta. And it has a lot ball games. And that’s in the fourth- Atlanta’s reputation as being the so integrated into its culture like it is of Big Ten, Big 12 and other fans too. largest convention city in the coun- capital of college football is well in Atlanta. College football lives The metro Atlanta area is host to try,” said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and established. But why is it? And how here. Its heart beats here. And its three FBS teams in Georgia, Georgia President Gary Stokan. “As a result, did it happen? Part of the answer is hard-core fans live here. Tech and Georgia State and FCS obvious, and part not so obvious. Atlanta is a city of transplants. power Kennesaw State. The state of SEE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, PAGE 34

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL, FROM PAGE 33 the capital of college football — is when the new facility opened. Now, home to the sport’s national shrine, the sport of college football has a Atlanta saw an unprecedented eco- the College Football Hall of Fame. gleaming new state-of-the-art attrac- nomic boost and national exposure Few are aware, though, that it was tion — right in the heart of its capital from those games.” Stokan and Peach Bowl, Inc. behind city. the Hall’s relocation. “Bringing® the Hall to Atlanta was a The not so obvious. It was another long-term plan, big part of our plan, but it couldn’t starting some 10 years earlier, to con- have happened without the support Much of the behind-the-scenes vince the National Football Founda- of our local business community,” Sto- heavy lifting that put Atlanta in this tion that Atlanta should be the Hall’s kan said. “That’s another critical part CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL position can be traced back to Peach permanent home. Stokan’s premise of this equation. The business leaders Peach Bowl, Inc. is the original recruiter and Bowl, Inc. — the organization that runs was simple. If Atlanta was going to here just get it. There is major corpo- founding sponsor of the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and Chick- become the college football capital, rate support for college football in fil-A Kickoff Game. it had to be the home of the College Atlanta with companies like Chick-fil-A, Aside from the games themselves, Football Hall of Fame. Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Aflac, NAPA Atlanta — as you would expect from His vision became reality in 2014 and Mercedes-Benz.”

T H E C H I C K - F I L - A P E A C H B O W L I S P R O U D T O C E L E B R AT E T H E 1 5 0 T H CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL A N N I V E R S A R Y O F C O L L E G E FO O T B A L L Alabama defeated Duke to win this year’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and claim its sixth Ole Leather Helmet Trophy. CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL Mercedes-Benz Stadium is among the world’s best facilities and is home to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and SEC Football Championship.

That strategic vision continued in 2008 when Peach Bowl, Inc created the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The idea was simple: create a “bowl game” at the start of the season that matches top-tier teams in week one. The result has been 12 straight years of marquee matchups and a host of other cities copying what Peach Bowl, Inc. did first. “The model for this game really took off and it works,” Stokan said. “In the CFP era, the Selection Committee protocol rewards teams that schedule high quality opponents. It’s a critical point of differentiation for the teams, win or lose, and the fans love these big-time games.” Making Atlanta the capital of college football was a strategic vision. “We had a plan,” Stokan said. “It focused on the long term growth plan for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl that ended with an invitation to join the elite group of New Year’s Six bowls that host the College Football Playoff.” That elevation delivered a rotation for hosting a College Football Playoff Semifinal and created the path to host the National Championship in Atlanta in 2018. Atlanta’s claim as the capital of college football is well made, but its architect is still at work. “Getting here was a great chal- lenge, but we’re not done yet. We’ve got to keep challenging and reinvent- ing ourselves. There is still a lot to do,” 1 2 . 2 8 . 1 9 | M E R C E D E S - B E N Z S T A D I U M Stokan said. “Starting with next year when we will host three Chick-fil-A Kick- I N A T L A N T A , T H E C A P I T A L O F C O L L E G E F O O T B A L L off Games in a week. That’s never been done before in college football history … until we do it.”

34 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL DECEMBER 9-15, 2019 COLLEGE FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 150 YEARS

Learfield IMG College unlocks the marketing solutions for brands of every fan engagement, ticketing, ticket sales value of college sports for brands through size, allowing them to customize their and professional concessions expertise; an omnichannel platform. The company’s message to a single school or across branding; campus-wide business and extensive, data-driven content and com- hundreds of iconic athletic programs sponsorship development; and venue CONNECTING merce solutions create unique opportuni- nationwide.” technology systems. ties for brands to engage with fans. Learfield IMG College is a leading Learfield IMG College is a strong advo- ® “As we celebrate 150 years of college content and commerce solutions pro- cate for intercollegiate athletics and the BRANDS WITH football, we’re proud to provide brands a vider for collegiate athletic departments. student-athlete experience. Since 2008, fully integrated platform to reach a large The company’s suite of services includes the company has served as title sponsor and loyal collegiate sports audience,” access to licensing and multimedia for the acclaimed Learfield IMG College COLLEGE FANS said Learfield IMG College President & sponsorship management, publishing, Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic depart- CEO Greg Brown. “We deliver turnkey broadcasting, digital and social media; ments across all divisions year round.

PROUD TO CELEBRATE COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND OUR DESIGN OF THE CFB150 LOGO

DECEMBER 9-15, 2019 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL 35 COLLEGE FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 150 YEARS American Athletic Conference: ® Celebrating History; Creating New Traditions AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AMERICAN ATHLETIC In celebrating 150 years of college Georgia, UCLA, Florida State, No. 14 Houston’s resounding 38-24 win over No. 9 Florida State in the 2015 Peach Bowl was a football, the American Athletic Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, milestone achievement for the Cougars and the conference. Conference, which was established in Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, 2013, has 12 football-playing schools Ole Miss, Stanford, TCU and Wisconsin, that have combined for 1,207 among many other Autonomy 5 a guaranteed slot like the other P6 seasons. Led by Navy, which has programs. conferences; we’ve earned it.” AAC’s Football Legacy fielded a team for 140 years, the AAC “Our conference is built on a Starting in 2020, the AAC is guaran- has seven schools that have played for foundation of achievement and we teed seven bowl appearances in SCHOOL FB STARTED TOTAL YEARS more than 100 years. Its two “rookie” want to be even more competitive,” each year of the six-year bowl cycle Navy 1879 140 programs hail from Florida, with UCF said Aresco. “We’re starting to show that runs through 2025. This includes Cincinnati 1885 134 facing ACC opponents in the Military fielding a team for 40 years and USF that we have the same kind of depth Tulane 1893 126 for 22. as the other P6 conferences.” Bowl presented by Northrop Grunman “We represent something unique in Coinciding with its goal to be and the new Fenway Bowl. The AAC Temple 1894 125 college football, a conference that’s recognized as a P6 conference, the could face Autonomy 5 conference Tulsa 1895 124 been reinvented from the era of AAC is striving to secure a contract opponents in alternate years at the UConn 1896 123 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl realignment, and has quickly become bowl slot in the New Year’s Six. “When Memphis 1912 107 nationally relevant,” said Mike Aresco, the CFP deal is renegotiated, we’ll and every year in the Jared Birming- SMU 1915 106* commissioner of the American Athletic press hard for a contract bowl,” said ham Bowl and the Bad Boy Mowers Conference. Aresco. “We’ve been in four New Year’s Gasparilla Bowl. East Carolina 1932 87 With a 2019 non-conference record Six games since 2013 and have won “We want to play as many other P6 Houston 1946 73 teams in bowl games as possible,” of 33-13, the AAC is ranked fourth three of those games. We should have UCF 1979 40 among all conferences with a winning said Aresco. “We’re also working with USF 1997 22 percentage of .717, just behind the ESPN to be placed in bowls that SEC at .738. The conference also match our geography.” TOTAL OF 1,207 YEARS “While we enthusiastically cele- boasts a mark of 27-1 against teams *Did not field a team for two years outside the power conferences. At the brate the history of college football, beginning of November, the AAC had the American Athletic Conference is four top 25 teams in the AP, Coaches’ creating new traditions,” said Aresco. “GameDay” visited UCF for the UCF/ and computer polls – SMU, Cincinnati, “Schools in our conference that once Cincinnati game. Memphis and Navy. UCF also received did not have as big a presence or “GameDay” has become an votes. profile have emerged and now have iconic show and this is the second “We’re stronger and deeper, top to a major impact on the college foot- consecutive year we’ve had it on our bottom, than we’ve ever been,” said ball landscape. We have more linear campus for a conference game and Aresco. “We have as many as 10 television coverage and more oppor- had the accompanying conference AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AMERICAN ATHLETIC tunities for exposure than ever before.” teams that could likely defeat each American Athletic Conference Commission- game on ABC in prime time,” said other on any given day.” er Mike Aresco shares a happy moment with Since its founding, the AAC has Aresco. Although classified in the Group of former UCF head coach George O’Leary fol- had a media deal with ESPN. This year, “College football is an heirloom lowing the No. 15 Knights 52-42 victory over the conference secured a new Five, the AAC, through its P6 No. 6 Baylor on Jan. 1, 2014 in the Fiesta that’s passed from generation to gen- campaign, has been striving to be one Bowl. This stunning upset was the confer- 12-year deal with ESPN worth more eration,” said Aresco. “It means a of the power conferences. Its schools ence’s first signature New Year’s bowl win than four times the previous one. With great deal to every community at regularly compete against the nation’s following the league’s reconstitution in 2013. the new deal, which begins with the every level, not just in the FBS and top programs, including Auburn, 2020-21 season, the network will FCS, but also at the Division II and III broadcast at least 40 regular season levels. It binds people together and football games per season, with at gives them a sense of community. But least 20 on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. The it’s also a lot of fun. We can’t overlook conference’s championship game will the fact that it provides a tremendous regularly air on either ABC or ESPN. amount of wonderful drama and “We’ve been fortunate with ESPN,” entertainment. College football is a said Aresco. “That outstanding rela- festival every Saturday that stretches tionship has given us the kind of expo- from “GameDay” in the morning to sure that wasn’t available 30 or 40 the last games in the early morning years ago and has expedited our hours, and on various weekdays as league’s progress. This will be the fifth well.” consecutive year we’ll have had our “The pageantry of college football championship game on ABC.” is something you rarely see in profes- Next year, the conference opens sional sports,” concluded Aresco. “The the season in August during week 0 American Athletic Conference reflects with Navy playing Notre Dame in Ire- the history of college football, with land. ESPN will broadcast “College teams that have been playing for GameDay” from Ireland, marking the more than 100 years, and with relative first time in the show’s 32-year history it newcomers with 22 to 87 years of has gone outside the country. This competition. College football is evolv- AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AMERICAN ATHLETIC year, “GameDay” was on location in ing. There’s a new world dawning and Quarterback McKenzie Milton and the No. 10 UCF Knights completed a perfect 13-0 season Memphis for the undefeated SMU/ we’re proud to be at the cutting edge in 2017 with a 34-27 victory over No. 7 Auburn in the Peach Bowl. It marked the third time an Memphis game, and last year, American Athletic Conference team earned a win in a New Year’s bowl game. of that world.”

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DECEMBER 9-15, 2019 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL 37 COLLEGE FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 150 YEARS Ticketmaster Brings the Latest Tech to the College ® GameDay Experience

On November 6, 1869, Princeton can’t make the game? We’ve made it and Rutgers played the first ever simpler than ever to sell your tickets on game of college football — in front of the world’s largest marketplace in just 100 spectators. We’re not sure if this quick two taps. was a ticketed event; Ticketmaster wasn’t around quite yet. But 150 years What type of innovation can we later, if you want to attend a college Q : expect to see next? TICKETMASTER football game, you need tickets. And Our Ticketmaster Presence technol- SDSU vs. Sacramento State game, September 2018 with College Football Bowl season fast ogy that we started rolling out to ven- approaching, we know fans are look- ues a couple of years ago has such ing for the best seats at the best prices incredible potential to completely est lines, you name it. The possibilities understand that getting tickets should — as safely and easily as possible. change the way we experience live are truly endless. be as easy as calling a rideshare. And Ahead of the playoffs, we sat down events. Now in nearly 700 venues, that’s what we’ve done. with Tim Martin, SVP & GM of College we’re only just beginning to unlock all How can I buy tickets for Bowl Sports, to shed some light on how Tick- that’s possible for our clients and fans. Q : games this season? How can fans know the tickets etmaster is changing the game. At its most basic level, Ticketmaster Ticketmaster is the official ticketing Q : they’re buying are real? Presence is our next generation venue partner for the majority of Bowl games As we gear up for what is sure to be In what areas do you see the big- access control and fan engagement this year. We’re wholly dedicated to an exciting college football playoffs Q : gest opportunity for Ticketmaster platform. It makes the entire ticket college athletics, and as a part of season, we want to remind fans to buy to improve the ticketing experience buying process easy, convenient, and that, we’re always innovating to con- game tickets only from official sources at the college level? safe for fans and event owners. tinue providing the safest and easiest to guarantee that their tickets are As the official ticketing partner to so For venue access, we’ve imple- ticket buying experiences for fans 100% real. With such high stakes many amazing schools and dozens of mented a “tap and go” entry system. everywhere. games, fans face an even greater risk Bowl games, we ask ourselves this It speeds everything along, and also of purchasing fraudulent tickets from daily. Our ongoing efforts to combat gives us insight into not just who buys a How does Ticketmaster stand out unofficial sources. fraud and reinforce ticketing safety ticket, but who’s sitting in the seat. This Q : among its competitors in the Imagine showing up to a bowl speak to our commitment to revolu- true fan identity leads to increased category? game only to be denied entry tionize the industry so schools can cre- event security, solving core problems As the global leader in cutting- because you bought fraudulent tick- ate the best live experiences possible that have plagued the industry for edge ticketing technology, we’re lead- ets. We’ve seen this happen to too for their fans. decades. ing the way in revolutionizing the indus- many fans and we know how much it Our launch of SafeTix, for example, For teams, each time a ticket is try and the gameday experience. We hurts. Live only happens once – so gives event owners control over their transferred or sold, a new digital ticket know that buying tickets can be a has- make sure you’re doing it right. tickets by tying a unique, digital ticket is tied to the recipient’s account and sle — we stand out because of how In 150 years of college football, to every fan’s phone equipped with a phone, giving owners visibility into the easy we’ve made it. getting tickets has never been easier rotating barcode that changes every chain of custody of every ticket. For example, take a look at our or safer. Simply go to Ticketmaster. 15 seconds. With this latest enhance- And because we always have fans recent integration with Apple to roll out com or the Ticketmaster mobile app ment to our Ticketmaster Presence in mind, we’ve built in incredibly fan- NFC at scale. We introduced Apple for more info. tech, we’ve been successful at pre- centric personalization opportunities Pay in the iOS version of the Ticketmas- venting the replication and sale of within the Presence platform that ter App, which lets you buy tickets with So you’re a College Football fan? fake tickets. So, in a nutshell, SafeTix they’ll be able to enjoy at scale. Fans a single touch. You no longer need to Q : Who’s your pick to win the has managed to completely elimi- could choose to save their food and fill out your account forms manually. College Football Playoff? nate fraud. drink preferences and have anything Just a touch, and a ticket is yours, That’s like asking me to pick my And for fans, SafeTix will let you eas- they want delivered to their seats at delivered safely using Apple Pay and favorite child (and I’m a new dad!) ily transfer tickets to a friend — by the push of a button. It can also direct Touch ID, which you can then save to CFP is always a guaranteed great time sending it over to them through text or fans to quicker entry and exit routes, your digital wallet. and one of the best live game experi- email. Something came up and you the nearest bathrooms with the short- Why do we do all this? Because ences on the planet. I can’t wait to we’re college football fans too. We see which two teams make it. TICKETMASTER TICKETMASTER Season opener for Kentucky vs. Louisiana Lafayette, September 2015 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship at Levi’s Stadium

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DECEMBER 9-15, 2019 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL 39 COLLEGE FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 150 YEARS Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame ® The Home of College Football The College Football Hall of Fame teamed up in September for a series has been celebrating the greatest showcasing classic college football players and coaches of the game movies and exclusive interviews with since the first Hall of Fame Class was Hall of Famers. In addition to the inducted in 1951. As the sport turns CFB150 specialty exhibit, the Hall has 150, the Chick-fil-A College Football a limited-time display of General Hall of Fame, a non-profit Douglas MacArthur’s Desk, on loan organization, lives the mission to from the Waldorf Astoria in New York educate, entertain and inspire by City, to celebrate his contributions to engaging fans to honor the people, the Hall and the game. The Hall team traditions and passion of college is wearing the same commemorative COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME football. patches on their uniforms as those The Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame features a one of a kind Penley painting and a worn by the players on the field. To three-story helmet wall with helmets from 775 schools. celebrate the actual anniversary on November 6, the Hall partnered with “The moment fans walk Coca-Cola, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl A College Football football game was played 150 years in our building, they and the ESPN College Football Awards ago — Rutgers vs. Princeton on Show, Built by The Home Depot, to November 6, 1869. can customize their award four lucky fans tickets to the Fan’s Mecca “The Hall is a fully personalized experience around their Awards Show, which airs live from the The Hall of Fame was established experience,” says Adamovich. “The favorite team.” Hall on December 12, 2019, and one in 1951 by the National Football moment fans walk in our building, grand prize winner with tickets to the Foundation, and the first brick and they can customize their experience DENNIS ADAMOVICH Peach Bowl, a CFP Semifinal Game, mortar Hall was built in 1978 in Kings around their favorite team. For fans on December 28. Mills, Ohio. Historical pieces began steeped in the history of the game, CEO I Chick-fil-A College “As the home of college football, flooding in, and the Hall grew to a they’ll delight in the vast collection of Football Hall of Fame we have the largest repository of 150 larger venue in South Bend, Indiana in the game’s most prized trophies and years of college football,” says Chick- 1992. In 2014, the Hall moved to its an in-depth look into the rivalries that fil-A College Football Hall of Fame new home in Atlanta, the capital of have shaped the game for the past CEO Dennis Adamovich. “With this college football. The unique 150 years. Guests are also treated to Working with the College Football milestone anniversary of the game, experience features more than augmented reality displays that share 150th Anniversary committee, the Hall it’s been a great opportunity to share 95,000 square feet of all things stats, photos and video highlights from spent more than a year planning and some of the rare artifacts and college football, including over 50 their favorite players and coaches. It programming partnerships and exclusive, immersive attractions we interactive and historical exhibits, truly takes the Hall of Fame experience unique events for visitors, including have here at the Hall and provide an 50,000 square feet of event space to a whole new level.” broadcast content in partnership with ideal backdrop for 150 years of and a 45-yard indoor playing field. From avid college football fans to ESPN and Turner Classic Movies and a amazing stories. We’re also incredibly The cutting-edge blend of technology occasional game-goers alike, there is specialty exhibit showcasing each excited to host The ESPN College and the historical something for everyone at the Hall. decade of the game. ESPN’s CFB150 Football Awards Show for the 5th time collection, dating back more than Fans of all ages delight in the only content, broadcast throughout the this year. The annual show broadcast 145 years, allows the Hall to bring to home that captures all the traditions, season, highlights the Hall’s stories, live from the Hall recognizes the life the stories of the game. Perhaps stories and iconic figures of 150 years including artifacts, Hall of Famers and accomplishments of the country’s top the most unusual piece is a box of dirt of Saturdays: The Chick-fil-A College Hall team members. TCM and the Hall student-athletes.” from the field where the first college Football Hall of Fame. COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME The greatest to ever play or coach the game are permanently enshrined in the Hall of Fame The 45-yard Peach Bowl Field features a regulation goal post and SkillZone. Rotunda.

40 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL DECEMBER 9-15, 2019 COLLEGE FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 150 YEARS

THE HOME OF ® COLLEGE FOOTBALL

There’s only one home for the traditions, stories and iconic ﬁ gures of 150 years of Saturdays: The Chick-ﬁ l-A College Football Hall of Fame.

#ImARealFan @cfbhall | cfbhall.com

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