Gator Bowl now known as Taxslayer Bowl

[Jaxson]

I never liked the Gator Bowl name from the get-go for quite a few reasons (confusion with UF, calling EverBank Field that etc). I didn't like the Taxslayer name either, but it's all for the sake of progression. The payout will be twice as much as the Toyota Gator Bowl, we'll be right behind the Capital One Bowl, and we'll have the primetime Taxslayer Bowl game next year. Far as the Cotton, Orange, and  Rose Bowls, they were already on the top of the heap anyway, so that's an apples and oranges comparison. So either hold on to this confusing old timey name, or double (maybe even more in the future) the payout, no 'controversy' with me.   

What was appealing about keeping the Gator Bowl name in the title is that, regardless of the sponsor changes, it was always the Gator Bowl at heart.  If and when the sponsorship changes in the future, it will come across as disjointed with little connection to the past or tradition IMHO...

[ANGLOMAX]

The name is not important. It's failure or success relies on the 2 teams playing in it.

[Noone]

^ From a marketing and promotional standpoint, it's stupid to the point that somebody should lose their job over it. The Gator Bowl, regardless of its current standing, is a name with 70 years of history behind it that can exploited and sold. It's the sixth oldest bowl game in the nation and has, at various times, been in the top five to ten in importance. Blows my mind that those in charge genuinely thinks that what ever incremental boost the game might receive by changing the name from the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl to simply The Taxslayer Bowl is greater than the cost of flushing seven decades of tradition down the toilet. You can't put a price on legacy. Our grandfathers took our fathers to the Gator Bowl. By changing the name, you're starting over. For what? A slightly better chance at getting on ESPN in prime time? How? It's like sawing off your leg to fix a tooth ache. Leave the name alone until you identify the fundamental reasons that the Gator Bowl has fallen from prominence.

+1

[SightseerLounge]

The name is stupid, but other games have been changed over the last decade or two! Peach Bowl, Citrus Bowl... The Gator Bowl is just another casualty! I won't be surprised if they change "The Granddaddy of 'em all", The Rose Bowl to the Vizio Bowl! Meinike Car Care Bowl? Hahahaha!
There was a bowl game in Louisiana that had a really weird name! I can't remember it!

[Noone]

I can only think of about 236,456,347,899 better names! This is the stupidest sounding name I've heard since 'All Aboard Florida,' and it easily trumps that one. This is one of those names so bad that you get embarrassed when you think someone noticed your watching 'The TaxSlayer Bowl,' and you quickly change the channels to reruns of 'The Waltons.' Any Jax residents around in the 1980's will recall the horrid 'Peanut Butter Proof and Chicken Proof' vinyl siding guy on TV, diving for the controller to LOOK for 'The Waltons.' Same effect here. What was it that Momma Gump always said?

+1
The Taxslayer Bowl- What a joke.
Today's front page headline in the 4/6/14 Florida Times Union- Pension Debt is Runaway Problem
Visit Jacksonville!
Bankruptcy ticket discount
Foreclosure ticket discount
Red light camera ticket discount
JEA surcharge ticket discount
We'll sell out.
This has to be positive.

[tufsu1]

There was a bowl game in Louisiana that had a really weird name! I can't remember it!

That would be the Independence Bowl...that at one point was sponsored by Poulan Weed Eater

[Charles Hunter]

At one time, the Clean Shower company wanted to sponsor  - either they didn't have enugh money, or the GBA thought it beneath them.

[KenFSU]

At one time, the Clean Shower company wanted to sponsor  - either they didn't have enugh money, or the GBA thought it beneath them.

If I recall correctly, Clean Shower actually wanted to buy overall naming rights to the stadium, rather than naming rights for the Gator Bowl game itself. They supposedly put in a higher offer than Alltel. Though I'm certain the name factored in to the decision, the official reason given for choosing Alltel for the multi-year deal was that it was a more stable, established business than Clean Shower.

[copperfiend]

I understand why people are upset about the name change, eliminating the Gator Bowl name. Especially those who grew up in Jacksonville. But like the stadium name, a change in the bowl game name was necessary. The Gator Bowl game has been dying a slow death for a while. Selling the naming rights willl increase the payout, therefore bringing in a better matchup.

Catlett has allowed the Gator Bowl to decrease in importance for several years. This move feels like a Verlander move to me. He is very forward thinking and sees the bigger picture.

[Tacachale]

It's definitely being framed that way, but increasing the payout and establishing tie-ins with conferences that weren't collapsing are things they've already done.

[urbanlibertarian]

The important thing for the future is getting college playoff games here and eventually the occasional championship game once our hotel room count measures up.

[Charles Hunter]

Thanks for the clarification, BenFSU.

Mayor Photo Op should embrace the new name.

[copperfiend]

It's definitely being framed that way, but increasing the payout and establishing tie-ins with conferences that weren't collapsing are things they've already done.

And they have been slowly sliding down the pecking order for years. This was a necessary move unless they want to float off into obscurity with games like the Liberty Bowl and Belk Bowl. This will at least keep Jacksonville in the conversation when it comes to the playoff games.

[BackinJax05]

Hard to even care. The creation of the BCS years ago destroyed ALL of the bowl games decades ago.

[I-10east]

The 'Peach' is back in Atlanta's 'Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl'. I really could care less if the 'Gator' comes back in Jax's annual collegiate bowl game, but I have a gut feeling that it eventually will. There are many in Jax who absolutely ADORE that Gator name; Some in higher places, and some fans alike. At One Spark 2014, I saw the freaking Gator Bowl Gator mascot walking down Laura St, and a person wearing a Gator Bowl hat.

http://news.sportslogos.net/2014/04/21/the-peach-returns-to-the-chick-fil-a-bowl/