| JUNE 4, 2019 DETROIT – The Detroit Lions announced today a three-year extension with Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center and six-year partnerships with both the Big Ten Conference and Mid-American Conference for the Quick Lane Bowl game played annually at Ford Field. Ford Motor Company’s Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center became the title sponsor prior to the inaugural game in 2014 and will retain naming rights through 2022. “We are thrilled to continue our support of a bowl game that has become a Detroit tradition,” said Frederiek Toney, president, Global Ford Customer Service Division. “Our support of the Quick Lane Bowl game enables us to connect with people in valuable ways. Through this bowl game we are supporting young athletes and drawing people into a revitalized and vibrant downtown Detroit. It’s also a unique opportunity to increase awareness of the quality services Quick Lane provides, and we appreciate that.” The Big Ten Conference, who first partnered with the Detroit Lions on the game in 2013, extends their agreement through 2025. The Mid-American Conference will replace the Atlantic Coast Conference as a primary bowl partner beginning in 2020 after previously being the game’s secondary partner. “Our partnerships with Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers as well as the Big Ten and the MAC have been instrumental in helping to establish a bowl game tradition in Detroit,” said Detroit Lions Team President Rod Wood. “Each of them has a strong regional presence that helps make the annual game more engaging to fans statewide and accessible to fans throughout the Midwest.” “We are also very appreciative of the ACC and their participating teams for supporting the game and bringing new fans to Detroit and Ford Field.” Mid-American Conference teams have been featured in two out-of-the first five Quick Lane Bowls with Central Michigan University in 2015 and Northern Illinois University in 2017. The conference’s relationship with the Detroit Lions extends back to 2004 when Ford Field began hosting the annual MAC Football Championship between their East and West Division leaders. The MAC has also been a long-term supporter of bowl games in Detroit dating back to the original Motor City Bowl (1997-2008) and Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (2009-2013). This year’s game is scheduled for Thursday, December 26 at 8 p.m. EST. The Quick Lane Bowl will air nationally on ESPN and is programmed to feature teams from the Big Ten and ACC conferences. Visit www.quicklanebowl.com for presale ticket information. About DLI Entertainment The Detroit Lions entertainment division, DLI Entertainment, has promoted multiple large-scale shows and events at Ford Field, including 10 sold-out Kenny Chesney concerts, Taylor Swift, U2, the 2003 Basketbowl, 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regionals, 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and the 2010 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four. The Detroit Lions are one of a select few NFL teams who own, host and operate a college football bowl game. For more information, please visit www.quicklanebowl.com. About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine vehicle maintenance including tire repair and replacement with a Low Tire Price Guarantee and a full menu of automotive services including oil and filter, brakes, alignments, batteries, and shocks and struts on all vehicle makes and models. Service is performed by certified technicians at more than 1,000 locations worldwide while you wait, and no appointment is necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com. About Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,500 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org. About Mid-American Conference Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of 10 members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five states – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. Current MAC schools that hold full membership and the year they joined are — East Division: University of Akron (1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946). West Division: Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, rejoined in 1997), University of Toledo (1950), Western Michigan University (1947). The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information, visit www.GetSomeMACtion.com. |
