Dec 07, 2009

University of North Carolina Accepts Bid to 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl

The University of North Carolina has accepted a bid to play in the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl, it was announced today by bowl officials. The Tar Heels, representing the Atlantic Coast Conference, will face the #17-ranked University of Pittsburgh Panthers from the Big East Conference.

The 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl will take place on Saturday, December 26, 2009 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. with a 4:30 p.m. kickoff. It is televised nationally on ESPN.

“We are very happy to welcome the University of North Carolina back to the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl,” said Will Webb, Executive Director. “The Tar Heels have proven to be a very tough and determined team this season, and we feel that the matchup of North Carolina against Pittsburgh will be a very exciting and competitive game. The fan response has been tremendous already, as there are only a limited number of lower level seats still available. It is also a great benefit for fans from both schools to be in close proximity to Charlotte and be able to travel to the game easily. The 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl will have a great atmosphere for the teams and the fans alike.” “Our program is excited for the opportunity to play in back-to-back bowl games and make a return trip to Charlotte,” said head coach Butch Davis. “Will Webb and the staff of the Meineke Car Care Bowl do an outstanding job with the game and the activities leading up to the bowl. Our players are excited to continue their season and play so close to home. We had tremendous fan support at the game in 2008 and we will need that again this year against an outstanding Pittsburgh team.”

North Carolina finished the season with an 8-4 overall record (4-4 in the ACC, fourth in the Coastal Division. They defeated five bowl-eligible teams, including Conference USA Champion East Carolina University. In addition, they defeated then #14-ranked Virginia Tech and #12-ranked Miami in a three week span.

Pittsburgh finished the season with a 9-3 overall record (5-2 in the Big East, tied for second). They won nine of their first ten games, defeating five bowl-eligible teams. In addition, they lost their last two games (against nationally-ranked West Virginia and Cincinnati) by just a combined four points.

Individual Upper and Lower Level Seats are only available through TicketMaster. To purchase individual tickets, please visit any TicketMaster outlet in the southeast or online at www.ticketmaster.com. To order from TicketMaster by phone, call (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Carolina Panthers Box Office, located at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Club Level seats are only available through the participating schools.

The Meineke Car Care Bowl has averaged over 62,000 fans during its first seven years, with three sellouts. It has reached over 18 million television households. In 2003, it was named one of the five-best start-ups in sports over the past five years by the Sports Business Journal, behind only the NFL Houston Texans and ESPN the Magazine.

For more information, please visit www.MeinekeCarCareBowl.com.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment, Community