Cincinnati Bearcats football opener with Nebraska has a title sponsor
Arrowhead Events, the special events arm of the Kansas City Chiefs, on Monday, June 7, announced Battle Sports as the title sponsor of the Kansas City Classic, a newly established college football event at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Aug. 28 game between UC and the Nebraska Cornhuskers will now be the Battle Sports Kansas City Classic.
The Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers game Aug. 28 at Arrowhead Stadium will be called the Battle Sports Kansas City Classic.
'We're proud to welcome Battle Sports as the title sponsor of the first-ever Kansas City Classic,' Matt Kenny, Executive Vice President of Arrowhead Operations and Events for the Kansas City Chiefs said. 'This game represents an exciting new opportunity for Arrowhead Events as we look to establish a marquee college football tradition right here in the heart of the Kingdom. We are passionate about delivering world-class events, and with Battle Sports joining us on this journey, we're thrilled to invite fans to experience top-tier college football at one of the most iconic venues in sports.'
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Why UC vs. Nebraska?
Kansas City Chiefs and Arrowhead Events President Mark Donovan, whose group pursued UC and convinced them to move the game to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium presided over the event.
"They (Cincinnati) are an ascending team that we have a slight connection with through our tight end (former Bearcat Travis Kelce of the Chiefs)," Donovan said. "The Nebraska fan base is extremely loyal and we felt that was a really good combination to drive numbers. We take a lot of pride in sharing the Arrowhead experience. GEHA Field has become this place where people want to play and a place that people want to experience."
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) catches a pass in the fourth quarter of the AFC championship NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 29, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Donovan mentioned Arrowhead Stadium had hosted college games in the past under Kansas City Chiefs founder and owner Lamar Hunt dating back to a Grambling State vs. Mississippi Valley State game. The Chiefs home field has hosted 40 college games.
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"That includes five Big 12 championships, five Missouri vs. Kansas rivalry games, two Farmageddon's (Iowa State vs. Kansas State) and four Kansas Jayhawks games last year when their home field in Lawrence, Kansas was being renovated," Donovan said.
Kansas City Chiefs President Mark Donovan was one of the players in the Arrowhead Events offer to move the Cincinnati vs. Nebraska football game to Kansas City.
The UC/Nebraska primetime showdown at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium will kick off at 8 p.m. CT/ 9 p.m. ET and be televised on ESPN.
Arrowhead Events is the special events arm of the Kansas City Chiefs. The stadium is also hosting a 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer match. The organizers approached the Cincinnati Bearcats last fall about moving the scheduled UC/Nebraska game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Chiefs group paid the buyout of the Indianapolis contract and UC is set to get 75% of the gate of the Battle Sports Kansas City Classic in addition to hosting seven other home games at Nippert Stadium.
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"We weren't looking to move it, didn't want to move it from Indy but got a cold call from Arrowhead and a group that was looking to put a game together," UC AD John Cunningham said last fall. "We didn't know if they could get us to where we needed to go financially, but they did. We feel like we can get close to doubling our revenues. In this day and age, business decisions have to be made and this was one we needed to make."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium has title sponsor
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