After months of speculation, Tucson's first college football all-star game has a name, a title sponsor and a location.
The Casino del Sol College All-Star Game will be played Jan. 16 at Kino Stadium. Two teams made up of college seniors, the Stars and the Stripes, will play in a game that will be televised on Fox Sports Arizona and other network affiliates. Last year's game drew 6,954 fans to Sun Devil Stadium.
Nike is on board as a sponsor, and the game will court more sponsors in the next few months, spokesman John A. Gray told the Star Tuesday.
"We're excited to be a part of the Tucson community," he said.
Gray is a business partner with former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, who is a co-chair of the game and is expected to provide color commentary on television.
Leach's name has been mentioned in connection to the Arizona Wildcats' vacant coaching job, though athletic director Greg Byrne has refused to comment on the search.
People are also reading…
Leach will take part in a Nov. 2 news conference at Casino del Sol; later that night, he'll sign his book, "Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life," at a Tucson bookstore.
Casino del Sol is believed to be the first casino ever affiliated with a college all-star game. Wendell Long, CEO of Pascua Yaqui Gaming Enterprises, said in a statement that the game will be "bringing Tucson to the forefront not only as a football town but as a leisure and business destination."
The announcement Tuesday capped three months of speculation surrounding the game, which was formerly known as the Eastham Energy College All-Star Game, the Blue-Gray Football Classic and the Inta Juice North-South Game.
Game officials announced in June that they were considering a permanent move to Tucson. They agreed with Casino del Sol on naming rights a month ago. The decision to play at Kino Stadium was made more recently, Gray said.
Gray was connected to Tucson and Tucson Padres general manager Mike Feder by City Councilman Paul Cunningham and former major-leaguer Trinidad Hubbard, a longtime friend.
Pima College plays most of its home football games at Kino Stadium. The facility is also home to the Triple-A Tucson Padres.
Kino Stadium, a county-run facility, is more modern and football-friendly than Hi Corbett Field, which was another possible site.
