In The News

The AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl presented a check for $150,000 to DePelchin Children’s Center at the Center’s annual spring luncheon today.  The donation came from the proceeds of the 2014 AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl.

AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl Board Chairman Chris Hanslik presented a check in the amount of $150,000 to Jenifer Jarriel, the President and CEO of the DePelchin Children’s Center.  The gift was the largest in Bowl history and marked the fourth time that the Bowl contributed $100,000 or more to DePelchin.  Donations have previously exceeded $100,000 in 2009, 2013 and 2014.

“The relationship with DePelchin is extremely special to our volunteers, staff and Board of Directors,” Mr. Hanslik said. “We feel honored to be able to provide a significant annual financial contribution to DePelchin and look forward to continuing to grow the game and our partnership with DePelchin for many years to come.”

DePelchin Children’s Center was named as the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary in 2006.  Over its nine-year history, the game has donated nearly $850,000 to DePelchin and has generated millions of dollars in promotional support and publicity.

“With this generous donation from the Texas Bowl, we will continue to turn lives around and help children and families in Houston and throughout the state of Texas,” said Jenifer Jarriel, President and CEO of DePelchin Children’s Center.

Founded in 1892 by Kezia Payne DePelchin, the Children’s Center is the largest and most comprehensive provider of children’s social and mental health services in the Houston area.  DePelchin Children’s Center serves 16,000 children and family members annually through 30 programs, including adoption, foster care, counseling and drug and alcohol prevention.

The agency was originally founded to serve as a shelter for orphaned children, and has grown and changed over its century-plus history to continue to meet the needs of the greater Houston community.  Today, DePelchin Children’s Center has over 60 locations in Harris, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Ft. Bend and Waller counties.

Last year’s 2014 AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl matched Texas and Arkansas in the first year of the bowl’s partnership with the Big 12 and the SEC.  In front of a sold-out crowd of 71,115, Arkansas rolled to a 31-7 victory behind quarterback and bowl MVP Brandon Allen’s 160 yards passing and two touchdown performance.

The AdvoCare Texas Kickoff and the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl have grown to become two of the most popular annual college football games in the country and have combined to create an economic impact of close to $100 million annually for the city of Houston.

CONTACTS:                                                                                                                                        

Amy Palcic (832) 667-2220

David Fletcher (832) 667-2146

About the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl

The AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. The bowl will showcase teams from the Big 12 and the SEC, two of the country’s premier conferences, for the next five years. The AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl has been a tremendous success both on and off the field over its first eight years. The bowl has generated an average of $30 million per year for the Houston economy and has donated over $700,000 and over $13 million in promotional support and publicity to DePelchin Children’s Center, the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary.

ESPN Regional Television/Event Ownership

The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 1,200 sporting events. Content includes action from NCAA football, basketball and Olympic sports, NHRA and professional and amateur golf, accounting for more than 3,400 live and/or original hours of programming. ERT’s owned and operated events reach over a million fans a year and provides more than 200 additional hours of programming.

In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (SEC, BIG EAST, Big 12, Mid-American, WAC) and manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.

About Lone Star Sports & Entertainment

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003.  Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as the leading sports event promoter in Houston. In addition to the sold out AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl and the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. tour, 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups. LSSE has also reinvigorated the “Battle of the Piney Woods” rivalry between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State and has promoted a pair of major concerts featuring country superstars George Strait and Kenny Chesney.

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HOUSTON – Lone Star Sports & Entertainment announced today that NRG Stadium in Houston Texas will become the permanent home for the annual Battle of the Piney Woods matchup between Southland Conference rivals Sam Houston State University and Stephen F. Austin State University as part of a new long-term agreement with the institutions. 

This year’s edition, which will be played Saturday, Oct. 3, will be the sixth played in Houston at NRG Stadium.  Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, June 1st with more information available by visiting www.battleofthepineywoods.com. 

“The Battle of the Piney Woods is one of the great annual events on the Houston sports calendar and we look forward to hosting the game at NRG Stadium for a long time to come. Hosting this rivalry at NRG Stadium brings a great deal of energy and excitement to the game and provides for an exceptional experience for the student athletes and the fans.” said Lone Star Sports & Entertainment Executive Director David Fletcher. 

“We are so happy that our partnership has grown into one of the top FCS events of the year. Now to have our game at NRG Stadium on a continuing basis says so much about how our fans have embraced this rivalry,” said Robert Hill Director of Athletics at Stephen F. Austin State University. “I’m excited to see how we can make this game even better.” 

“The Battle of the Piney Woods at NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, has expanded Sam Houston State University’s footprint in the greater Houston area in so many positive ways,” said Bobby Williams, Director of Athletics at Sam Houston State University. “The opportunity it provides for media exposure is outstanding not only for Bearkat athletics but the entire University. Each year the event has become bigger and better. We want to say thank you to David Fletcher and the entire staff at Lone Star Sports & Entertainment for all the hard work they do each year to make “The Battle” such a success. It’s an event every Bearkat now has on their calendar. We can’t wait for the 90th renewal of this great rivalry with SFA next fall.” 

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment also announced an extension of its partnership with CBS Radio Houston as the radio broadcast home of the game.  This year’s 90^th meeting will be once again broadcast on SportsRadio 610 (KILT-AM). 

Sam Houston State defeated Stephen F. Austin 42-28 last season before a crowd of 26,788 fans at NRG Stadium. The crowd was the largest in the 89-year history of the rivalry. 

The Battle of the Piney Woods dates back to 1923, making it the third-oldest college football rivalry in the state of Texas. Sam Houston State holds a 52-35-2 edge in the series following last year’s victory.

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003.  Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as the leading sports event promoter in Houston. In addition to the sold out AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl and the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. tour, 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups. LSSE has also reinvigorated the “Battle of the Piney Woods” rivalry between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State and has promoted a pair of major concerts featuring country superstars George Strait, Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney.