The announcements streaming from the Big Ten’s Chicago headquarters continues this afternoon, with the conference officially confirming a big-city addition to its future bowl schedule.
As expected, the Big Ten announced Monday that it has agreed to add the Pinstripe Bowl to its postseason rotation. Beginning in 2014 and continuing through the eight-year agreement, the Big Ten will square off against (probably) an ACC opponent at Yankee Stadium.
The Big Ten will replace the Big 12, which has played in each of the first three Pinstripe Bowls and will end its tie-in with the game following the 2013 season. The ACC would replace the American Athletc Conference (nee Big East).
Suffice to say, the fact that the Big Ten is looking to stretch its Midwest roots into the East Coast made the marriage a no-brainer.
“Once we saw the success of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, it became obvious – especially with the Big Ten’s growing East Coast footprint – that being in the media capital of the world at one of sports’ most renowned venues was a natural pairing,” said Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany. “By agreeing to an eight-year partnership, it increases the likelihood that most of the Big Ten schools will have the opportunity to participate in the game, while giving our coaches, student-athletes, administrators and fans the opportunity to experience the nation’s biggest metropolis and an iconic setting like Yankee Stadium.”
One postseason game a year isn’t the only thing to which the New York Yankees are committing. In the release from the conference, it’s stated that “for all New York Yankees regular season games, beginning in 2014, the Big Ten will have a significant branding presence in Yankee Stadium, featuring a fixed sign along the first-base line and home plate rotating signage.”
This year’s game is scheduled for Dec. 28 and will, obviously, be televised by ESPN.
“The Big Ten Conference playing college football at Yankee Stadium is something I know my father would be proud to see come to fruition. He had a great passion for college football and spoke glowingly of his involvement with several of the conference’s programs,” said New York Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner. “Welcoming a national powerhouse conference like the Big Ten to participate in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and partner with the New York Yankees for years to come only expands the prestige of our great annual bowl game in New York City.”
One issue left unresolved by the press release is which teams from the conference will play in the Pinstripe Bowl. It’s believed that the New York game will receive somewhere between the fifth and seventh selections, although that’s yet to be confirmed by the league.
The Pinstripe would also get the fourth through seventh selection of ACC teams depending on the year.