What Should the New Detroit Lions Bowl Game Be Called?
By Zac Snyder
Dec. 26, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Central Michigan Chippewas wide receiver Colton Odykirk (34) carries the trophy after defeating Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 24-21 to win the 2012 Little Caesars Bowl at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
With news that the Detroit Lions and Ford Field are advancing plans to start a new college football bowl game in Detroit, it looks like the upcoming season will mark the end of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.
Despite rumblings the Pizza Bowl could continue on by playing at Comerica Park, it doesn’t seem possible for two bowl games to co-exist in Detroit. Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News provided an update from the Little Caesars side of the situation yesterday and it doesn’t sound like there is much momentum building in the way of trying to save the Pizza Bowl as a second game in the city:
"Little Caesars officials want to make clear if the organization is not involved in a bowl game, that’s fine as long as the city maintains a presence in the bowl schedule. Stuart deGeus, vice president of field marketing for Little Caesars, said the bowl has generated $14 million annually in Detroit and has been a source of pride for the company and the city.He simply wants to see a bowl in Detroit, with or without Little Caesars, and said the company will support the bowl."
While Little Caesars won’t rule out getting involved in the new bowl game, it doesn’t sound like anyone should expect the new game to carry the Little Caesars name. Also from the Chengelis piece:
"“I think our desire would be to remain involved if it makes sense for us and the venue,” said deGeus, a member of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl advisory and marketing committee. “We have not (been in conversations with anyone regarding sponsorship). We were made aware of this last fall, that this could be a pursuit of Ford Field and the Lions.“I think one of the keys is waiting to see where this new bowl alignment stands. As we would with any sponsorship, we’ll take a long hard look at it.”"
So what should the new bowl be called?
A number of different directions could be taken given current bowl game names. The affiliation with the Detroit Lions organization could lead to some branding possibilities much like the Pinstripe Bowl gets its name from the iconic Yankees uniforms. How does the Honolulu Blue and Silver Bowl sound?
OK, maybe that’s not such a good idea. Can you imagine a bunch of college kids learning they will be playing in the Honolulu Blue and Silver Bowl only to find out they will be traveling to Detroit and not Hawaii? I wouldn’t blame them for being a little disappointed.
Perhaps the name can be inspired by a greater cause it serves. The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl has kind of a funny sounding name but it speaks to the greater work – that being Kraft, a food company, working to fight hunger in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Detroit Lions have a new philanthropic initiative called ‘Living for the City’ to benefit the community at large. How about the Living for the City Bowl?
Maybe the new bowl could take on a name that symbolizes the region, like the Sun Bowl or the Alamo Bowl. Perhaps the Motor City Bowl name could return.
The most common naming convention for current bowl games utilizes the location and/or sponsor name. For instance, the Gildan New Mexico Bowl or the Russell Athletic Bowl. The bowl organizers could keep it simple by calling the game the Detroit Bowl with sponsor name at the beginning or adding a ‘presented by’ at the end.
And for you jokesters, maybe the game should be called the Detroit Lions Super Bowl. You know, just so they can say they have one.
Now it’s your turn, what do you think the new bowl game should be called? Use the comments section down below to let us know and it might be featured in a follow up post on this site. You can also answer by tweeting us or leaving a message on our facebook page.