Grocer Plans to Engage Fans at Colorado’s Premier College Football Rivalry Between University of Colorado and Colorado State University
DENVER — Albertsons/Safeway, in association with the University of Colorado and Colorado State University Athletic Departments, announced today that the grocery retailer would serve as title sponsor for the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.
The Rocky Mountain Showdown is Colorado’s longest running in-state football rivalry between the Colorado Buffalos and Colorado State Rams, attracting nearly 70,000 fans annually to the City of Denver and Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.
“No other annual sports event in Colorado attracts greater anticipation, attention and emotion than the annual CU/CSU game,” said President, Albertsons/Safeway Denver Division Susan Morris. “This sponsorship is a great opportunity to show our loyal customers that we are committed to Colorado and college athletics.”
Albertsons/Safeway will work closely with Learfield Sports’ Buffalo Sports Properties and Rams Sports Properties staffs, as the exclusive athletic multimedia rights holder for each University, to incorporate Albertsons and Safeway’s trademarks with the game’s brand in all advertising, promotion and game day signage.
The grocer plans to engage fans through a social media “submit it to win it” campaign with an ultimate tailgate package as the grand prize. More rules and details of the contest will be available on Albertsons and Safeway Facebook pages within the next few weeks.
“The Rocky Mountain Showdown brings great attention to both Universities and athletic programs, and continues to be a premier event for the state of Colorado,” said Colorado State University Athletics Director Joe Parker. “It’s important and exciting to have the support of the business community with Albertsons/Safeway signing on as the title sponsor, and we are all ramping up for this rivalry as we head into the fall athletic season.”
“Safeway has been a longtime partner and official grocery sponsor of the University of Colorado Athletics, and we are pleased to have them as our title sponsor of this hallmark event,” said University of Colorado Director of Athletics Rick George. “This rivalry brings so much excitement to the state of Colorado, and we are thrilled to have the support of such an important and storied corporate partner.”
Individual game tickets for the Rocky Mountain Showdown are on sale now through Ticketmaster and through the schools at www.cubuffs.com and www.csurams.com.
In addition to Colorado and Colorado State, Learfield Sports manages the multimedia rights and sponsorships for over 100 collegiate institutions and associations, and titles the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. Learfield represents collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas for their respective multimedia rights and sponsorship initiatives, and offers these partners with professional concessions and ticket sales, licensing and trademark consulting, digital platform expertise and venue and technology systems through its owned companies. To learn more about its history, businesses and job opportunities, visit www.learfieldsports.com.
AB Acquisition LLC, the parent company of Albertson’s LLC, New Albertson’s, Inc., and Safeway Inc., is one of the world’s largest food and drug retailers, with approximately 2,200 stores and 1,700 pharmacies in 33 states and the District of Columbia under 18 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United, Pavilions, Star Market, Market Street, Amigos, Lucky, Super Save, Albertsons Market, Pak N’ Save and Carrs. The company is privately owned by a consortium led by Cerberus Capital Management.