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New Battle at Bristol Countdown Clock Builds Anticipation for College Football's Largest Game
[September 10, 2014]

New Battle at Bristol Countdown Clock Builds Anticipation for College Football's Largest Game


BRISTOL, Tenn. --(Business Wire)--

History will be made as sports fans witness a border battle, decades in the making, between Virginia Tech and the University of Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 10, 2016. In honor of this epic rivalry, spurred by fanatical-fan bases, an 18 ½ -foot tall, two-year countdown clock was unveiled today near the state lines.

Standing 18 1/2 ft. tall & weighing 625 lbs, the countdown clock is craned in for College Football's ...

Standing 18 1/2 ft. tall & weighing 625 lbs, the countdown clock is craned in for College Football's Biggest Ever (Photo: Business Wire)

Expected to draw more than 150,000 fans, the iconic NASCAR short track will transform into college football's largest venue within an estimated two-week timeframe following its traditional late-Aug. race date. The Battle at Bristol football game is on track - no pun intended - to crush the current NCAA single-game attendance record of 115,109, which was set in September 2013 at Michigan Stadium.

For the latest announcements surrounding the Battle at Bristol, as well as ticket and event information call (855) 580-5525 or visit BattleAtBristol.com and Facebook.com/BattleAtBristol

Facts about the Battle at Bristol Countdown Clock

  • The Battle at Bristol countdown stands 18 ½ feet tall and expands to 11-feet wide at the VT and UT helmets
  • Once completed, the entire structure will weigh 625 pounds
  • The sign is American Made by Express Signs located in Kingsport, Tenn.
  • The clock, from ThinkSign in Louisville, Ky., is a full color 16 mm true pixel 1R1G1B LED with an over 68 billion color capacity message center
  • The brightness is 12,000 NITS with a lifetime of over 100,000 hours pulling only 8 amps
  • The Battle at Bristol countdown clock will be positioned in front of the Bristol Chamber office, at the intersection of Volunteer Parkway and State Street. The clock, displayed next to the iconic guitar sculpture, signifies Bristol's designation by the U.S. Congress as "The Birthplace of Country Music." The clock and guitar are highly visible to passersby as they live, work and travel in the twin cities

Quotes:

Virginia Tech Head Football Coac: Frank Beamer



On what it means to the Virginia Tech football program to play in the Battle at Bristol:

"It's another first. We just played in front of the largest crowd ever to watch an Ohio State football game. They increased their stadium size and it was jam-packed the other day. We look forward to playing in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a college football game. It's exciting to be a part of that.


I think having that clock and seeing that (Virginia) Tech helmet right across from a Tennessee Vols helmet, I know our fans will take great pride in that being on display … in this part of the country it probably doesn't get any better than that."

Frank Beamer on the feedback he has received from fans and players about the Battle at Bristol:

"Nothing but excitement. We've got a couple displays here in our hallways at Virginia Tech. It is generally talked about just about every day. Certainly with recruits coming in, it's generally talked about with each and every one of them. We'll use it in recruiting, and I'm sure Tennessee is the same way. To play in such a special game and to come be a part of that is a real drawing card for our football program. We're going to use it as much as we possibly can."

Frank Beamer on what it takes to get Virginia Tech fans excited about the Battle at Bristol:

"Hokie nation usually rises to the occasion. They did this past weekend. We took a bunch of folks up to Ohio State, then they celebrated in the streets -our students did - after the game. We had about 1,000 to 2,000 students who met us here at 4 o'clock in the morning when we got back, so our fan support usually is there. I can promise you, the closer it gets, the more excited they will be over the biggest game ever in college football."

University of Tennessee Head Football Coach: Butch Jones

"We are excited about the opportunity to break college football's all-time attendance record two years from now at the Battle of Bristol," said Head Football Coach of the University of Tennessee, Butch Jones. "We are honored to be a part of historic game and to play a tremendous opponent in Virginia Tech, and I know our fans are looking forward to September of 2016 with great anticipation."

Food City, is one of three major corporate sponsors of the Battle at Bristol and a longtime sponsor of NASCAR races held at Bristol Motor Speedway. President & CEO of Food City: Steve Smith

"Two years from today, Bristol Motor Speedway, the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech will make college football history," said President and CEO of Food City, Steve Smith. "Many of our Food City stores serve the passionate fan bases of these iconic institutions, and we are proud to partner with them on such a momentous event. Since the 2013 announcement there have been spirited debates among our customers and associates about who comes out on top in 2016, and I know their enthusiasm will only increase as the countdown clock ticks closer to the Sept. 10 Battle at Bristol."

The Bristol Chamber of Commerce serves both Bristol, Tenn. and Bristol Va. area businesses. CEO of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce: Joy Madison

"The Battle of Bristol is on!" says Joy Madison the President and CEO of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. She invites football fans to check out the countdown clock in the front yard of the Chamber on the corner of Volunteer Parkway/Commonwealth and State Street. Hokie and Vols fans are welcome to the state line for a photo with the clock and explore Bristol before, during and after what she predicts will be a national college football event and the best tailgate party in history.

Bristol Motor Speedway is the host of College Football's Biggest Ever Game. General Manager and Executive Vice President: Jerry Caldwell

"We're counting down the months, days and hours until Bristol Motor Speedway's iconic short track fully transforms into one of college football's most coveted game-day Colosseums on Sept. 10, 2016," said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. "This countdown clock is about igniting the spirit of sports fans across the country for college football's largest game, while flaming the passion of the rabid Hokie and Vol Nations and the literal border battle surrounding our community."

ABOUT SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC.

Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sonoma, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary. The Company also equally-owns Motorsports Authentics, a joint venture formed with International Speedway Corporation to produce, market and sell licensed motorsports merchandise. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.speedwaymotorsports.com.


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