NEWS RELEASE
Contact:
Debbie Brandwein, MSL Sports and Entertainment
914-374-5188 (cell) or dbrandwein@mslsportsent.com
GRIDIRON BASH™ MOVED TO FALL
NEW YORK, NY, March 28, 2008, – MSL Sports and Entertainment today announced that it
will postpone Gridiron Bash™ until Fall, 2008. The announcement comes on the heels of the
NCAA’s last minute interpretation of Gridiron Bash™ relating to student athlete participation
and the disruption this junction would cause in the ultimate execution of the events at the
16 participating Division 1 football universities nationwide.
“The issue over player participation has caused confusion among the schools during this critical
window of time in which they had left to properly promote the event. With valuable time being
lost awaiting NCAA clarification, we felt it was in the best interest of all parties involved to
allow our participating universities and their marketing partners more time to adequately prepare
for this event, the largest college football celebration in history,” says Shawn Garrity, president
of MSL Sports and Entertainment, creators and producers of Gridiron Bash™.
Garrity confirmed that the NCAA has deemed Gridiron Bash™ overall to be compliant, but that
the issue raised revolves around student athlete participation. MSL Sports and Entertainment has
begun discussions with the NCAA and believes the issue will be resolved shortly and amicably.
With the exception of three participating schools, all of the Gridiron Bash™ events were slated
to take place on April 18, the evening before spring games. The Friday evening events were
designed to kick off the 2008 football season and revolved around a fan competition (with the
winning school receiving $1 million for its general scholarship fund), a pep rally with the
football team and coach, and a live music element.
According to Garrity, MSL Sports and Entertainment had received numerous e-mails from
campuses and their marketing partners indicating that their players would not be permitted to
participate in Gridiron Bash™ based on a potential violation of NCAA regulations.
“Lack of participation by the football team would be detrimental to the fiber and essence of what
this event is all about. We’ve been working for a year and a half to promise fans the spring
football experience that includes players, coaches, marching bands, cheerleaders and great
players past and present,” says Garrity. “Our decision to postpone was reached by our desire to
preserve the long-term integrity of our brand and hold true to our promise that Gridiron Bash is
not a concert, but a football celebration with the added benefit of a live music element.”
MSL Sports and Entertainment is working with each school to set a new date for Gridiron
Bash™ this fall, as well as one for next spring. Refunds for tickets already purchased will be
issued through university box offices and www.gridironbash.com. Any text votes that have been
placed will not be billed.
For updates, visit www.gridironbash.com.
About MSL Sports and Entertainment
Manhattan-based MSL (www.mslsportsent.com) builds and develops cutting-edge entertainment
properties with the purpose of connecting consumers, brands and media. In addition to rolling
out trend-setting new properties -- such as the Gridiron Bash™, at Division I schools and the
East Meets West All-American Game -- MSL’s core services include branding, TV production
(with assets including, Inside the Big East, numerous Division I Coaches Shows and other
television properties), sponsorship sales, public relations, celebrity procurement and every aspect
of event management. MSL also runs a nationally recognized scouting and recruiting service
that works with universities, athletes and media organizations.
# # #
Contact:
Debbie Brandwein, MSL Sports and Entertainment
914-374-5188 (cell) or dbrandwein@mslsportsent.com
GRIDIRON BASH™ MOVED TO FALL
NEW YORK, NY, March 28, 2008, – MSL Sports and Entertainment today announced that it
will postpone Gridiron Bash™ until Fall, 2008. The announcement comes on the heels of the
NCAA’s last minute interpretation of Gridiron Bash™ relating to student athlete participation
and the disruption this junction would cause in the ultimate execution of the events at the
16 participating Division 1 football universities nationwide.
“The issue over player participation has caused confusion among the schools during this critical
window of time in which they had left to properly promote the event. With valuable time being
lost awaiting NCAA clarification, we felt it was in the best interest of all parties involved to
allow our participating universities and their marketing partners more time to adequately prepare
for this event, the largest college football celebration in history,” says Shawn Garrity, president
of MSL Sports and Entertainment, creators and producers of Gridiron Bash™.
Garrity confirmed that the NCAA has deemed Gridiron Bash™ overall to be compliant, but that
the issue raised revolves around student athlete participation. MSL Sports and Entertainment has
begun discussions with the NCAA and believes the issue will be resolved shortly and amicably.
With the exception of three participating schools, all of the Gridiron Bash™ events were slated
to take place on April 18, the evening before spring games. The Friday evening events were
designed to kick off the 2008 football season and revolved around a fan competition (with the
winning school receiving $1 million for its general scholarship fund), a pep rally with the
football team and coach, and a live music element.
According to Garrity, MSL Sports and Entertainment had received numerous e-mails from
campuses and their marketing partners indicating that their players would not be permitted to
participate in Gridiron Bash™ based on a potential violation of NCAA regulations.
“Lack of participation by the football team would be detrimental to the fiber and essence of what
this event is all about. We’ve been working for a year and a half to promise fans the spring
football experience that includes players, coaches, marching bands, cheerleaders and great
players past and present,” says Garrity. “Our decision to postpone was reached by our desire to
preserve the long-term integrity of our brand and hold true to our promise that Gridiron Bash is
not a concert, but a football celebration with the added benefit of a live music element.”
MSL Sports and Entertainment is working with each school to set a new date for Gridiron
Bash™ this fall, as well as one for next spring. Refunds for tickets already purchased will be
issued through university box offices and www.gridironbash.com. Any text votes that have been
placed will not be billed.
For updates, visit www.gridironbash.com.
About MSL Sports and Entertainment
Manhattan-based MSL (www.mslsportsent.com) builds and develops cutting-edge entertainment
properties with the purpose of connecting consumers, brands and media. In addition to rolling
out trend-setting new properties -- such as the Gridiron Bash™, at Division I schools and the
East Meets West All-American Game -- MSL’s core services include branding, TV production
(with assets including, Inside the Big East, numerous Division I Coaches Shows and other
television properties), sponsorship sales, public relations, celebrity procurement and every aspect
of event management. MSL also runs a nationally recognized scouting and recruiting service
that works with universities, athletes and media organizations.
# # #
