MOBILE BAY WINS BID TO HOST HISTORIC PIONEER BOWL

Sep 27th, 2004

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) have selected Mobile Bay as the new home for their annual Pioneer Bowl. The CIAA and SIAC represent 23 colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States . The Pioneer Bowl is the only NCAA sanctioned Division II football bowl game for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and has been played in Atlanta every December since 1998 between the best teams in each conference. The first Pioneer Bowl to be featured in Mobile will kick off on Saturday, December 4, 2004 at Ladd Peebles Stadium

Commissioners Dr. William Lide of the SIAC and Leon Kerry of the CIAA began searching for a new city and venue to host the Pioneer Bowl two months ago. Upon their recent visit to Mobile , they discovered a city that is ideal for their event. Not only did they find a great football stadium, but they also found a city that has the spirit and willingness to help them create a permanent, successful home for the Pioneer Bowl game.

During their Mobile visit, the commissioners met with Mayor Michael C. Dow, Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau President Leon Maisel , Mobile Convention Center general manager Bob Brazier, hotel representatives and the Board of Directors of Ladd Peebles Stadium. Mayor Dow assured both commissioners that "we obviously are a great city that knows how to execute successful bowl games," alluding to the already successful GMAC Bowl and Senior Bowl games played in Mobile. Dow also stated that this welcome addition will give Mobile its third college football bowl game, the most of any city in the U.S.

A local host committee co-chaired by prominent members of the community, Michael Pierce and Mike Jones, has already begun preparations to execute a successful Pioneer Bowl game kicking off this winter at Ladd Peebles Stadium on Saturday, December 4, 2004 . Other events coinciding with the game include a Battle of the Bands Competition, Toys for Tots, Step Competition, team visits to local hospitals, kickoff banquet and an awards event.

To officially announce the bowl game and to provide more detailed information, a press conference featuring Mayor Michael C. Dow and Pioneer Bowl representatives is scheduled for Monday, September 27 at 10:00 AM in the Mobile Convention Center ballroom.