Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Extends Title Sponsorship of Popeyes Bahamas Bowl

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has extended its title sponsorship in a multiyear deal with the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, one of 13 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN.

“Popeyes provided terrific support for the inaugural Popeyes Bahamas Bowl last year,” said Pete Derzis, ESPN Events, senior vice president. “This multiyear extension will allow us to build on the work they did last year and highlight this unique bowl experience.”

Added Hector A. Muñoz, Chief Marketing Officer – U.S. for Popeyes, “This news signifies the reach and power of the Popeyes brand. We have established a new tradition with the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl that will allow us to connect with fans in a forum they love — college football. Big brands do big things and we cannot think of a better demonstration of Popeyes growth and success. We are pleased to make this announcement!”

Popeyes signed as the inaugural title sponsor for the Bahamas Bowl in August 2014. During bowl week in Nassau, Popeyes co-hosted a hospitality event for the student-athletes and the travel parties of both institutions. The company introduced a new product, Ghost Pepper Wings, for the first time on game day as 5,000 fans were able to sample that product at the game in conjunction with a rollout to a national television audience in the United States during the ESPN-televised game.

The 2014 game featured Western Kentucky of Conference USA against Central Michigan of the MAC in the first FBS-level bowl outside of the United States or Canada since 1937. The Hilltoppers held on for a 49-48 victory over the Chippewas in one of the most memorable bowl games of the 2014 season.

WKU built a 49-14 lead after three quarters, but CMU rallied with a 34-point fourth quarter, including a last-gasp, 75-yard, three-lateral-pass play that resulted in a touchdown as time expired — a sequence that was named the top play of the 2014 bowl season by SportsCenter. A two-point conversion pass by the Chippewas that would have won the game was broken up in the back of the end zone.

During bowl week, student-athletes from WKU and Central Michigan helped fulfill the mission statement of the bowl as they gave back to the Bahamas by way of a visit to the Ranfurly Homes for Children in Nassau and a youth football clinic conducted by the bowl, USA Football and the Bahamas American Football Federation.

The second Popeyes Bahamas Bowl will be played Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 in Nassau’s Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, showcasing schools from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference. The game will be televised nationally in the United States on ESPN.

About Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Popeyes is a leader in the New Orleans segment of the foodservice industry and is the world’s second largest quick-service chicken concept based on the number of units. As of April 19, 2015, Popeyes had 2,420 operating restaurants in the United States, three territories, and 27 foreign countries. For more information, visit the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Web site at www.popeyes.com.

About The Popeyes Bahamas Bowl

The Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, a NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) postseason bowl game, is committed to promoting the Islands of The Bahamas and the educational and athletic opportunities for the youth of The Bahamas through college football, while providing its conference partners and their alumni, fans and sponsors a first-class bowl experience. Owned and operated by ESPN Events, the second Popeyes Bahamas Bowl will take place in Nassau, Bahamas on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium between schools from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference. The game will be televised nationally in the United States on ESPN. For more information, visit PopeyesBahamasBowl.com.