by Fred Seely
Editorial Director
Coming off a successful 2003 game, the Gator Bowl opened its drive this week for the next New Year’s Day college football bowl game here with a reality to its new president: he can’t do any better.
“We can’t sell any more tickets,” said Compass Bank president Bob White, “because we sold them all for the last game. So we have to do that again, plus work to improve every other area.”
The Notre Dame-North Carolina State game Jan. 1 produced the earliest sellout in the bowl’s 58 years and set another record with an estimated 30,000 room/nights at area hotels.
Ticket prices will remain the same with Club Seats going for $55.
The Gator Bowl Committee met at the Omni with about 50 of the 114 members attending and White announced this year’s executive committee as the main order of business.
Bob Smith, president of the U.S. operations of the Canadian company Basis 100, is the chair-elect. John Strom, managing partner of PriceWaterhouse Coopers, is secretary-treasurer and Fred Franklin of Holland & Knight is the counsel.
Players Championship director Brian Goin will again chair the Events Committee and Mike Hartley of Hartley Press will chair the Game Operations Committee.
Liaisons to the Gator Bowl’s two conferences will be Scott Keith of SunTrust, who will handled the Atlantic Coast Conference, and Andy Pradella of Mercury Luggage, the Big East Conference.
Liz Pierce, managing director of Idea Integration, chairs the public relations committee and immediate past president Susan Hamilton of CSX will chair the team selection committee.
Three past chairmen are on the board: John Harrison of Harrison & Associates, Leerie Jenkins of RS&H and Jim McCollum of Bell South. Toyota, the title sponsor, is represented by Bob Moore of Southeast Toyota, and the NBC television network is represented by Ch. 12/25 president Ken Tonning.
Smith, who also heads the Marketing Committee, said there would be emphasis this year on expanding the GB Committee to 150 members and continuing to the build the “Patch” program, which is an effort to attract younger members to the organization. “Patch” gatherings are held at sports bars and other venues during the year.
“There are young adults who we have missed in the past,” said Smith. “We need to get involved with every aspect of the community, and the ‘Patch’ program offers a good opportunity.”
The association currently is soliciting ticket renewals and the new buyer drive will start June 1.
The committee next meets April 8 at the Radisson.