Because the world needs another kickoff game to start the college football season, the organizers of the Independence Bowl are hoping to bring a new game to the early season schedule to Shreveport, Louisiana.
Originally reported by KTBS, the organizers of the newly sponsored Duck Commander Independence Bowl have their eyes set on initiating a season-opening kickoff game at the sight of the Independence Bowl, Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The plans appear to be contingent on seeing a hotel occupancy tax passed. The tax would help to provide for the funding to host a neutral site game, as it has already done in Dallas and Houston for similar early-season games. If the tax is passed, we could see this brand new game kick off in 2015.
Earlier this week it was reported the Music City Sports and Entertainment Group in Nashville is looking to start a new kickoff game in LP Field as early as 2016. The game in Nashville is reported to hope to attract a high-quality match-up. There is no mention of the kind of teams this game in Shreveport would aim to invite. The Independence Bowl has conference tie-ins with the SEC and the ACC.
The desire to boost the local economy is certainly of interest. The benefits of hosting the Chick-fil-A Kickoff include flowing $35 million in revenue to Atlanta. The Chick-fil-A Bowl and the Kickoff Games in Atlanta currently serve as the model for a number of these kickoff game initiatives, but it takes time for these to come together and be a success. Would Shreveport be a short-term experiment or could it become a long-standing tradition at the beginning of the college football schedule for years to come?
Helmet sticker to FBSchedules.com.