To pay tribute to America’s first responders, the annual postseason college football game played at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl Stadium has been renamed the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. The bowl game formerly known as the Heart of Dallas Bowl will be broadcast by ESPN under its new name at 12:30 p.m. C.T., on December 26, 2018.
Police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, search and rescue, dispatchers, federal agents and specialized military personnel will be among the first responders honored at the event, according to the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. Additionally, game tickets for first responders will be underwritten by corporate sponsors.
“This is an exciting change, and we are humbled by the fact that an actual bowl game has been named exclusively for the first responders of this country,” said Dallas Fire-Rescue Fire Chief David Coatney.
Sentiments echoed by the city law enforcement officials
“We are truly honored to have a bowl game here in Dallas named after the hard working men and women serving and protecting communities across this country,” said Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall. “It always feels great to be recognized, and I know our officers and firefighters are touched by this overwhelming show of support.”
The TicketCity Bowl was played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas as a physical replacement for the Cotton Bowl, which left its namesake arena for nearby Arlington’s AT&T Stadium in 2010. The game was renamed the Heart of Dallas Bowl presented by PlainsCapital Bank for the 2013 and 2014 contests, and has been known as the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl for the last four years.
The new title is the result of an agreement between ESPN Events and SERVPRO, a fire and water restoration company headquartered in Gallatin, Tennessee.
“We are proud to present the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl dedicated to honoring some of the hardest working men and women in our country” said SERVPRO CEO Sue Steen. “We recognize the dedication and selfless acts of our First Responders and are honored to help highlight and celebrate the commitment of these everyday heroes.”
The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will join the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl and the Military Bowl as the three college bowl games that pay tribute to our nation’s bravest men and women.“We are truly grateful for all first responders’ sacrifice and service,” added Brant Ringler, Executive Director of the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. “It is a tremendous privilege to honor these brave men and women who protect our communities 24/7/365.”
The 2018 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will be the ninth edition of this bowl game, and yet another entry in the rich, 89-year history of college football at Cotton Bowl Stadium, which also famously hosts the annual State Fair Classic and Red River Showdown. The venue was also the longtime home of the Southern Methodist University Mustangs, and became known as “The House That Doak Built” in the 1940s, in reference to the large crowds drawn by SMU running back Doak Walker.
The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will join the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on December 22 and the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman on December 31 as the three college bowl games that pay tribute to our nation’s bravest men and women. Fans interested in attending the Armed Forces Bowl in person can purchase tickets now.
