Four-Year Deal Begins in 2013

ESPN Regional Television (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN, and AdvoCare International, LP, announced a four-year title sponsorship of the Texas Kickoff. Beginning in 2013, the event will officially be named the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff and will be featured on Labor Day weekend at Reliant Stadium in Houston. The event will be operated in cooperation with Lone Star Sports and Entertainment (LSSE).

The annual game will match-up premier college football teams from around the country to kick off the college football season. In the inaugural game, Mississippi State from the Southeastern Conference will face Oklahoma State from the Big 12 Conference on Saturday, August 31.  Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CST on ABC and ESPN2.

Last season, Oklahoma State finished the year with a 58-14 victory over Purdue in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. The Cowboys feature 12 players from the Houston area and will be playing in Houston for the first time since September 2009 when they faced off against the University of Houston.

In 2012, Mississippi State finished the year 8-5 after climbing all the way up to No. 13 in the AP Poll, before falling to then-No. 1 and eventual national champion Alabama. The Bulldogs last played in Houston in October 2010 against the University of Houston and feature two players from the Houston area.

“The AdvoCare Texas Kickoff will be an exciting way to start another college football season,” said Clint Overby, senior director of events, ESPN Regional Television. “AdvoCare is a Texas company and the opportunity to support college football in their home state was a natural fit.”

AdvoCare is a premier health and wellness company offering world-class energy, weight-loss, nutrition, and sports performance products. Based in Plano, Texas, AdvoCare has been providing health and performance products across the country since being founded in 1993. AdvoCare has an impressive roster of athletes and performers who trust AdvoCare with their health and performance, including Drew Brees, Jason Witten, Sam Bradford, and Michael W. Smith, just to name a few.

“AdvoCare has always been a strong supporter of college football and this partnership gives us an opportunity to share our brand with the consumer,” said Richard Wright, President and CEO, “We immediately knew this was an event AdvoCare needed to support and we look forward to presenting more exciting matchups in the years to come.”

For additional information on the Advocare Texas Kickoff follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

ESPN Regional Television
ESPN Regional Television (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN, owns and operates collegiate sporting events worldwide, including two Labor Day Kickoff college football games; seven college bowl games and eight college basketball events. These account for approximately 200 hours of programming, reach almost 64 million viewers and attract nearly half a million attendees each year. The owned and operated events build relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as provide unique experiences for teams and fans. In addition to event ownership, ERT manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.

Collegiate Football
BBVA Compass Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.); Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg; Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Las Vegas Bowl; MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney (Orlando, Fla.); Texas Bowl (Houston); AdvoCare Texas Kickoff (Houston); Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu) and The Home Depot College Football Awards

Collegiate Basketball
Armed Forces Classic (TBD); Charleston Classic (S.C.); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Jimmy V Men’s & Women’s Basketball Classics presented by Corona Extra (Madison Square Garden & Durham, N.C.); Old Spice Classic (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan, PR); State Farm Champions Classic (United Center, Chicago) and Wooden Legacy (Orange County, Calif.).

For more information, visit espnplus.com.

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003.  Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as the leading sports event promoter in Houston. In addition to the Texas Bowl, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. tour, 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups. LSSE has also reinvigorated the “Battle of the Piney Woods” rivalry between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State and has promoted a pair of major concerts featuring country superstars George Strait and Kenny Chesney.

AdvoCare
For 20 years, AdvoCare has offered general nutrition, weight loss, energy and sports performance products of the highest quality developed through comprehensive research and backed by a Scientific & Medical Advisory Board. AdvoCare offers more than 70 exclusive products and a business opportunity that empowers individuals to explore their ultimate potential. AdvoCare is headquartered in Plano, Texas. For more information on AdvoCare, visit www.advocare.com or call 800-542-4800.

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