Source: Montgomery Advertiser, Ala.迷你倉新蒲崗Aug. 20--Let's not kid ourselves about what the Camellia Bowl really is.It is another in a long line of meaningless, low-level bowl games that pit two teams from lesser conferences against each other in a contest that will serve as the background noise at your office/family/neighborhood Christmas party.And, oh, yeah, it's also great for this city.That might seem like an odd thing to say after the description of the game, but it can be both. Let me explain.First of all, Montgomery's downtown has undergone a revitalization the last few years. We've spent a boatload of money both building and renovating facilities and making improvements required to attract high-profile businesses, like the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center.All of that construction and renovation, which is still ongoing, was done, at least in part, to attract events to the city. Events bring in people. People spend money. Money translates into taxes. Tah-dah, the renovations are starting to pay for themselves.The thing is, though, at some point, you have to stop renovating and start attracting. You have to cash in on the investment.This Camellia Bowl is the first big step toward that end.It is Montgomery's opportunity to prove to the sports world -- through ESPN, the sports world's biggest mouthpiece -- that it has the facilities, the infrastructure, the people and the fans to support mid-level events.And let's be real here, the middle of the ladder is all we're shooting for in this city. Not because of a lack of initiative or an unwillingness to be more, but because this isn't a major city. Montgomery's never going to be in the business of bidding for Super Bowls or NCAA basketball finals.It is what 迷你倉出租t is.But make no mistake about it, terrible game or not, people will be watching. Because it's major college football.Every year, we go through this ordeal of people complaining about the number of bowl games, insisting that the addition of more bowls somehow cheapens the sport and the bowl season. They want to go back to the days of just a handful of bowls played right around and on New Year's Day and that be the end of it.And to support their argument, they insinuate that no one is watching these low-level bowl games.And every year, every TV executive is saying the same thing: Shut up.These little bowl games, like the Camellia Bowl, pull in very decent ratings. Because A. It's football, and B. What else are you going to watch in mid-December? Early season NBA games?That's why this is so important to Montgomery."We have to show ESPN that we can do this," Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said. "We have a six-year deal in place. We expect to meet their expectations and improve every year. After that, who knows what opportunities might be out there for us?"Some opportunities are already in play.Strange said he and city leaders have discussed with ESPN officials the possibility of other sports events -- both football and other sports -- being located in Montgomery, depending, of course, on how this bowl game contract goes.Should those deals pan out, it would mean more money for city businesses. More tax revenue. More jobs. And better PR for Montgomery.This is our shot. Just don't blow it.Josh Moon is an Advertiser reporter and columnist.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Ala.) Visit the Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Ala.) at .montgomeryadvertiser.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存倉
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