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TAMPA — Outback Steakhouse renewed its sponsorship of the Outback Bowl through 2020, making the restaurant chain's 25-year sponsorship the longest bowl game sponsorship in history.
The New Year's Day bowl game attracts tens of thousands of out-of-town football fans to Tampa. The last Outback Bowl attracted fans from 45 states and was televised in 144 countries. The company did not disclose how much it paid for the sponsorship in the news release announcing its renewal.
“It was an easy decision to continue to support two things we are very passionate about — Tampa Bay and great college football,” Outback Steakhouse President Jeff Smith says in a news release.
Outback is negotiating with network partner ESPN and officials from the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences to extend those relationships.
Outback Bowl CEO Jim McVay says the steak house chain's commitment enables the bowl game to continue to create a significant economic impact for the Tampa Bay area and to showcase the region nationally and internationally.
Outback Bowl officials say the game has generated an estimated $1 billion in economic impact for the Bay area and contributed $109 million in payouts for the 26 universities in the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference.
Outback, the Australian themed steakhouse chain, is owned by Tampa-based Bloomin' Brands Inc. (symbol, BLMN; recent price, $25.21).
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