2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl Will Be Played On New Year's Eve

By: Meineke Car Care Centers | 0 Shares 136 Reads

CHARLOTTE, NC (4/14/2005) - Charlotte, N.C. – The 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl will take place on Saturday, December 31, 2005, with an 11:00 a.m. kickoff, televised nationally on ESPN2, it was announced today by Raycom Sports, owner and operator of the game. The Meineke Car Care Bowl, played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., pits the Atlantic Coast Conference against the Big East Conference.

"We are extremely excited to announce the date for the 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl," said Bowl Executive Director Will Webb. "This game has been a tremendous success thus far and we look forward to continuing that tradition. The fact that this game will be played on New Year's Eve this year is a testament to the strength of this game, both on the field and in the ratings for ESPN2. We have had two sellouts in the first three years and also some of the highest-rated bowl games in the history of ESPN2. That is a great accomplishment, and something we plan to continue to build upon for the future."

"The date for this year's Meineke Car Care Bowl is ideal for the city of Charlotte," said Tim Newman, President & CEO of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. "We have a great Uptown New Year's Celebration, and playing the game on December 31 will enable us to capitalize on the huge crowd it generates. The bowl game and New Year's Eve celebration together give an even better reason to visit Charlotte and spend a fun-filled weekend."

The Meineke Car Care Bowl, formerly known as the Continental Tire Bowl, was named one of the five-best start-ups in sports over the past five years by the Sports Business Journal, behind only the NFL Houston Texans and ESPN the Magazine. The game has sold out two of its first three years and averaged more than 65,000 fans each year.

The inaugural game, played on December 28, 2002 before a sold-out stadium, saw Virginia defeat West Virginia, 48-22. On December 27, 2003, Virginia once again claimed victory, this time over Pittsburgh, 23-16. This past year's game, on December 30, 2004, was again a sellout, as Boston College defeated North Carolina, 37-24.

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