RIO TINTO STADIUM EXTENDS DEAL TO HOST
“TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS” BOWL CLASSIC
THROUGH DECEMBER 2012
SANDY (Monday, November 9, 2009) – Rio Tinto Stadium General Manager Mike Steele and Snow College President Scott Wyatt announced today that the only college football bowl game hosted in the State of Utah will call Rio Tinto Stadium, the state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue in Sandy, Utah, home through the 2012 season. This year’s edition, the Sixth Annual Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl, kicks off on Saturday, December 5 at 12:00 noon MT.
“On behalf of Snow College, the host school, and the Bowl Committee, we had such a great experience last year as the first American Football game to be played in the world-class venue,” said Snow College President Scott Wyatt, reminiscing about the Badgers’ overtime loss in 2008 to Butler (Kan.) College. “The Bowl couldn’t be more pleased with the partnership, and we are proud to call Rio Tinto Stadium home for the next several years.”
The Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl is one of seven bowl games sanctioned by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The bowl committee’s objectives are to showcase the talents of amateur athletes from Snow College – currently ranked #5 in the nation among all NJCAA teams – and its opponents an opportunity to play in a first-class venue and to raise money for higher education scholarships and medical care for children.
“Sports are a key part of Utah’s diverse recreational and business landscape,” said Jeff Robbins, president & CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “And the 'Top of the Mountains' Bowl Classic is another example of an event that expands upon Utah’s sports infrastructure and further builds our sports brand as Utah, The State of Sport.”
Today’s announcement comes nearly one year after primary tenant Real Salt Lake announced the Top of the Mountains Bowl as its first-ever non-soccer event at the facility that would later become Rio Tinto Stadium. Since its October 9 opening last fall, the venue has hosted numerous RSL events, as well as concerts featuring world-renowned acts The Eagles, Kenny Chesney, REO Speedwagon, Styx and .38 Special, the Maakoa Monster Truck Spectacular, high school soccer events, USA Rugby and the 2009 Major League Soccer All-Star Game. Even the United States National Team’s road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa rolled through Rio Tinto Stadium, as the U.S. defeated El Salvador in a CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier by the score of 2-1.
“Our stadium is the finest outdoor building of its size in America, and we are proud to serve as the ongoing host of the Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl,” said Rio Tinto Stadium General Manager Mike Steele, lauding the venue’s intimate 20,000-seat capacity. “We pride ourselves on the local connections our building regularly makes with the community through different types of events, and we look forward to a long partnership with the bowl.”
For the sixth consecutive year, Zions Bank is the Title Sponsor of the event. Several other sponsors, including the Utah Sports Commission, have also been with the event since its inception. Snow College serves as the Bowl’s host and home team each year, as long the team finishes with a record of 6-4 or better. The Snow College Badgers are a perennial power in the NJCAA, finishing in the top 20 for the past five seasons, including national top five finishes in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Last year’s game saw the host Badgers drop a heart-breaking 37-30 double-OT thriller to the Butler Grizzlies, forcing the Badgers to settle for a #2 national finish. The current 2009 NJCAA poll has Snow College ranked #5 overall, with Snow wrapping up at least a share of WSFL title with its 48-20 win over Scottsdale last week. The Badgers can win the title outright and move into National Championship contention with a victory this week against Arizona Western.
Tickets are now available to this game, with Real Salt Lake season ticket holders receiving an exclusive discount to this event. Fans can purchase tickets Mon. – Fri. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, or through either the www.RioTintoStadium.com and www.TopoftheMountainsBowl.com web sites.
About Rio Tinto Stadium
Rio Tinto Stadium is a state-of-the-art, sports and entertainment facility in Utah, providing a stunning new home for world-class events, one with breathtaking views of both the Oquirrh and Wasatch Mountain ranges. Rio Tinto Stadium opened its doors for the first time on Thursday, October 9, 2008, with Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer action televised before an international audience. The venue’s first-ever concert event featured legendary rockers the Eagles on May 9, 2009.
The Stadium, which recently hosted the 2009 MLS All-Star Game and the United States Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup Qualifier vs. El Salvador, is a new class of venue in the Intermountain West, attracting events that would not otherwise visit Utah, bolstering the state's reputation as an international sports and entertainment destination. The diversity of events attracted to Rio Tinto Stadium brings significant media attention, positively impacts tourism efforts and creates numerous job opportunities on both permanent and seasonal bases. In March, 2008, the Stadium was recognized by Forbes.com as one of “10 New Super-Stadiums” in development worldwide.
Located in Sandy, Utah, at the heart of the Wasatch Front, Rio Tinto Stadium is conveniently accessed from major transportation arteries Interstate-15 as well State Street, between 9000 South and 9400 South. The venue resides just 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City and 25 minutes from SLC International Airport. The venue seats 20,008 people for various sporting events, including Real Salt Lake games, with capacity rising to 25,000 for concerts and other events. Stadium amenities include 32 luxury suites, a 2,000-square foot Stadium Club, 1,000 club seats, five locker rooms, a 60-foot Video Board, and ribbon LED boards on both the east and west fascia.
About the Utah Sports Commission
The Utah Sports Commission is a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. The Sports Commission was created to foster national and international amateur and professional sports competitions to be held in the state of Utah, acting as a catalyst in unifying the states sports community and strengthening Utah's presence in the global sports marketplace. For more information, visit www.utahsportscommission.com