Gators Win Florida Fan Game Title
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 | Football
The University of Florida chomped on the lead early and never let go, winning the title of “Florida's No. 1 Fans” in the Florida Fan Game, a six-university contest hosted by VISIT FLORIDA in support of Florida's economy.
During football season, UF fans put their passions for football and for Florida to work for the Sunshine State by delivering thousands of digital postcards across the country inviting friends and family to travel here for a vacation or getaway. The potential benefit for Florida tourism, the heart of Florida's economy, will be measured in the millions of dollars.
Gator fans sent 23,000 travel invitations, and fans at all six competing universities sent out a whopping 70,000.
“We are proud that Gator fans have helped Florida's economy in such a big way," said UF Director of Athletics Jeremy Foley. “All the fans of the universities that played the Florida Fan Game can be proud of what we accomplished together for our state."
Competing for the title were UF, Florida A&M University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of Miami and University of South Florida, with the schools' head football coaches leading the way. FSU fans were the runners-up in the contest, sending more than 20,000 travel invitations and scoring that many points for the Seminoles.
While UF fans won the statewide bragging rights, one lucky player in the Florida Fan Game will soon learn that he or she won an 11-day, Florida vacation for six, with visits to Gainesville, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee and Tampa. Thirty others who played won free tickets to football games in the six universities' home stadiums.
The Florida Fan Game also delivered discounts on Southwest Airlines flights into Florida, free foam fingers at select home games, and hundreds of special deals on hotels, motels and attractions at destinations throughout Florida.
The win for Florida tourism will live on beyond the end of the game, resulting in visits to the Sunshine State worth $1,125 per traveler. VISIT FLORIDA invites all Florida fans to keep cheering on the cause by sending travel invitations any time of year through Share A Little Sunshine.
VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official tourism marketing organization, hosted the Florida Fan Game, with support from its tourism partners, Southwest Airlines, IMG and the six participating universities, led by their head football coaches.
For more information, contact Laura Cassels at VISIT FLORIDA, (850) 205-3839 or lcassels@VISITFLORIDA.org.
