Insight Bowl
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The Insight Bowl is losing its sponsor this year, forcing the Fiesta Bowl to find a new company to fund its precursor.
Insight Bowl
Tempe-based company Insight Enterprises has dropped its sponsorship of the Insight Bowl, held every year at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. (Photo by Lisa Bartoli)
Tempe technology company Insight Enterprises will end its 15-year sponsorship of the Insight Bowl to refocus its marketing strategies on a global market.
The NCAA championship bowl game could potentially change its location without the sponsorship, although Sun Devil Stadium will continue to host the game for two more years.
Insight Enterprises initially invested in the bowl to advertise itself as a new company, but it has since expanded to more than 20 countries and is now worth close to $5 billion, according to Bryan Davis, vice president of marketing at Insight Enterprises.
The Arizona Sports Foundation bought the bowl in 1996 and sold it to Insight Enterprises the following year. The Arizona Sports Foundation oversees the championship series, as well as The Fiesta Bowl. Now, the foundation is responsible for finding a new sponsor in time for the game in late December.
The foundation is not releasing any sponsor candidates, but the Fiesta Bowl has started a national search and has received some potential interest, said Andy Bagnato, Fiesta Bowl spokesman.
Although Insight Enterprises will no longer be paying for the Insight Bowl, ASU will still receive $300,000 from the game this year, said Terri Schafer, associate vice president of public affairs at ASU.
ASU will host the bowl for two more years per its marketing contract with Fiesta Bowl, said Steve Patterson, chief operating officer of Sun Devil Athletics.
It is still unclear if the Insight Bowl will remain in Tempe after ASU?s contract expires, Bagnato said. The bowl?s future name is also uncertain.
ASU business students have received lectures from Internet marketing agency professionals about how marketing is an ever evolving field.