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The Alamo Bowl announced today that MasterCard International has agreed to become the title sponsor of the MasterCard Alamo Bowl through the 2005 game. MasterCard, based in Purchase, New York, committed to a four-year deal as the presenting sponsor last year and has now increased its support to become the game?s title sponsor for the remaining three-year contract starting with the 2003 MasterCard Alamo Bowl on Monday, December 29. ?With the success of last year?s presenting sponsorship, MasterCard is excited about the opportunity to increase our commitment to the Alamo Bowl,? said John Stuart, MasterCard?s Senior Vice President of Global Sponsorships and Events. ?The Alamo Bowl has a widely recognized reputation as one of college football?s premier match-ups and last year was no exception with Wisconsin?s thrilling overtime victory against Colorado.? The 2002 Alamo Bowl presented by MasterCard earned a 4.44 rating which was the highest rating of the 124 college football games ESPN televised last season making it their top-rated bowl game of the season and the seventh most-watched bowl game in ESPN history. ?Last year as presenting sponsor, MasterCard saw firsthand what the Alamo Bowl had to offer,? said Derrick Fox, Executive Director of the MasterCard Alamo Bowl, ?and their decision to upgrade to title sponsor is quite gratifying. MasterCard is one the pre-eminent brands in the world and the type of company that can grow the stature of our game. Obviously, this partnership will be great for the bowl and beneficial for San Antonio in the long-term as well.? ?more? MasterCard Alamo Bowl 2 of 3 The length of MasterCard?s sponsorship matches the deals the Alamo Bowl has with the Big Ten Conference, the Big 12 Conference and ESPN. ?MasterCard is a perfect fit,? said Pat Frost, Chairman of the 2003 MasterCard Alamo Bowl. ?Our bowl game is now affiliated with two of the premier football conferences in the Big Ten and the Big 12, the number one sports channel in ESPN and one of the world?s most recognized brands in MasterCard through 2005. We look forward to growing the game with help from these tremendous partners.? Since aligning with the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences, the Alamo Bowl has produced the second-highest average rating (4.52) of the 20 post-season bowl games ESPN has televised during the last eight years, including four of the top 10 most-watched bowl games in ESPN history. ?The Alamo Bowl has been a great partner for ESPN and a cornerstone of our extensive Bowl Week lineup,? said Dave Brown, ESPN Director of Programming and Acquisitions, College Football. ?We welcome MasterCard as the Alamo Bowl?s title sponsor and look forward to working closely with them and the MasterCard Alamo Bowl to continue the tremendous growth the game has experienced.? The 2002 Alamo Bowl presented by MasterCard was the third time in the last five years the outcome has been decided in the final minute as Wisconsin beat Colorado 31-28 in overtime. Since the Big Ten and Big 12 match-up began in 1995, exciting games have the rule as four of the last seven games have been decided by a field goal. Our eight-year relationship with the Alamo Bowl and San Antonio has been nothing short of tremendous,? said Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany. ?We consider the Alamo Bowl a great partner and are pleased to welcome MasterCard in its new role as title sponsor of the MasterCard Alamo Bowl.? ?more? MasterCard Alamo Bowl 3 of 3 ?The Alamo Bowl and San Antonio are very important to the Big 12 Conference,? said Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg. ?MasterCard is a great addition as a title sponsor, and we look forward to developing that relationship over the next three years.? MasterCard is the third title sponsor in Alamo Bowl history. Builders Square was the title sponsor for the first six Alamo Bowl games from 1993-1998 and SYLVANIA titled the game from 1999-2001. To view or download the new MasterCard Alamo Bowl logo, please go to the following link: https://www.alamobowl.com/logoreq2.asp. For more information, please call Rick Hill or Kelsey Walter at the MasterCard Alamo Bowl at (210) 704-6388 or (210) 226-2695 or visit the MasterCard Alamo Bowl?s web site at www.alamobowl.com. About MasterCard International MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members? credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard International manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment cards brands including MasterCard?, Maestro? and Cirrus? and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Priceless? advertising campaign is now seen in 98 countries and in 46 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information go to www.mastercardinternational.com.