GAYLORD HOTELS AND BRIDGESTONE EXTEND SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENTS

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 30, 2004 ? Representatives of the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Presented By Bridgestone announced today that Gaylord Hotels and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, have signed one-year extensions to their existing sponsorship agreements. The agreements keep Gaylord and Bridgestone on board as title and presenting sponsors, respectively, through the 2005 Bowl game. ?We are truly excited to extend our outstanding partnership with Gaylord Hotels and Bridgestone through the 2005 Bowl game,? said Joe Kelley, chairman of the Bowl. ?They both have been integral parts of the Bowl?s success and we look forward to growing our partnership with them.? ?We are proud that our title sponsorship of the Music City Bowl has contributed so significantly to Nashville tourism, particularly over the New Year?s Day weekend,? said Jay Sevigny, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Gaylord Hotels. ?We believe the game and related activities are an important part of what attracts travelers to Nashville and we?re pleased to extend our sponsorship through 2005.? The Bowl enters its seventh year and features a match-up between the SEC and BIG TEN. Since its inception, the Bowl has produced a $69 million economic impact; more than 288,000 fans have attended the games; more than 60,000 local hotel rooms have been occupied; 29 million viewers have watched the live national broadcast on ESPN; and more than $10 million has been contributed to the participating universities. ?As I said last year when we announced that we would partner with Gaylord Hotels to sponsor this great bowl game, this is a perfect fit for our company and our brand,? said John Gamauf, President, Consumer Tire Replacement Sales, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire , LLC. ?By extending our commitment to the game through 2005, we have the opportunity to continue to build on the great momentum and successes of the 2003 game, while showcasing our home town, our company and our products before some of the most passionate fans in the world, those of the BIG TEN and SEC conferences.? ?I want to thank Gaylord and Bridgestone/Firestone for making the Music City Bowl a part of Nashville?s sports landscape,? said Mayor Bill Purcell. ?The game allows us a great opportunity to expand our offerings to residents and visitors during the holiday season. Families can enjoy an exciting match-up between two competitive teams, and Nashville will reap the benefits of national television exposure, and from thousands of football fans who gather downtown to experience Music City- many of them for the first time.? The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Presented By Bridgestone (a 501 c-3 not-for-profit) is an annual post-season collegiate bowl game featuring the Southeastern (SEC) and BIG TEN conferences. The Bowl will be played on Friday, Dec. 31, 2004 at 11 a.m. CST at the Coliseum in Nashville, Tenn. Broadcast nationally to millions of viewers live on ESPN and the Nevada Sports Radio Network, the Bowl is Nashville?s Holiday Tradition. To order tickets please contact Ticketmaster at (615) 255-9600 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.