Oct. 28, 2009

ATLANTA (Chick-fil-ABowl.com) – The first selection in the Atlantic Coast Conference – after the BCS – will continue to go to Atlanta’s Chick-fil-A Bowl through the 2013 college football season. Chick-fil-A Bowl and ACC officials today announced a four-year extension to their existing agreement.

“Our 18-year partnership with ACC is among the most important assets we have and is a huge part of our bowl’s success,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. “The ACC is a big part of our identity. It’s who we are. We consider it a privilege to provide their member institutions a BCS-like experience in both the Chick-fil-A Bowl and in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.”

The ACC has been a conference tie-in for the Chick-fil-A Bowl since 1992 and the Chick-fil-A Bowl has owned the first non-automatic selection in the conference since 2006. An ACC team has played in 30 of the 41 Chick-fil-A Bowls dating back to 1968.

“The Chick-fil-A Bowl has been a tremendous partner over the years and we look forward to our continued relationship,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “Showcasing an ACC-SEC matchup on New Year's Eve in Atlanta has proven to be a solid formula for success. I know the experience of our teams and fans is second to none and we appreciate every aspect of our association with the Chick-fil-A Bowl.”

The 42nd annual Chick-fil-A Bowl will be played Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be nationally televised by ESPN in prime time.

About the Chick-fil-A Bowl:
The Chick-fil-A Bowl is the ninth-oldest bowl game in the country and hosts the longest-running rivalry series between the ACC and SEC. Now in its 42nd year, the Chick-fil-A Bowl has established itself as one of the nation’s elite bowl games with a string of 12 consecutive sellouts and has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the nation. Ten of the last 17 games have been decided by a touchdown or less. The Chick-fil-A Bowl has disbursed more than $90 million in team payouts over its 41-year history and has increased team payout every year since 1996. The Bowl also leads all other bowl games in charitable and scholarship contributions, giving more than $1.2 million to organizations in need in 2008 alone. Other events under the Chick-fil-A Bowl brand include the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge head coach and celebrity golf event each April and the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game season-opening game over Labor Day weekend which hosted two top-10 teams, Alabama and Virginia Tech, to open the 2009 season.