GAYLORD HOTELS AND BRIDGESTONE EXTEND BOWL AGREEMENTS

July 13, 2006 ? Representatives of the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Presented By Bridgestone announced today that Gaylord Hotels, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., and ESPN have signed extensions to their agreements. The agreements keep Gaylord and Bridgestone on board as title and presenting sponsors, respectively, through the 2006 Bowl game and ESPN through 2013. ?Over the past eight years, the Nashville community has benefited greatly from the Bowl game and the thousands of fans that visit our city for the event each year,? said Mayor Bill Purcell. ?I appreciate Gaylord and Bridgestone?s continued commitment to the Bowl. These sponsorships allow the Bowl to continue to be a part of Nashville?s Holiday Tradition.? This year the Bowl features a match-up between the SEC and ACC, the first match-up of the two conferences in Nashville. ?We are excited to extend our outstanding partnership with Gaylord Hotels and Bridgestone through the 2006 Bowl game,? said Dale Polley, chairman of the Bowl. ?They both are outstanding corporate citizens and have been integral parts of the Bowl?s success. We are thankful for their continued support and sponsorship.? Bowl organizers are hopeful that more Middle Tennessee and downtown Nashville businesses will follow Gaylord and Bridgestone?s lead in supporting and sponsoring the Bowl. The Bowl continues to deliver significant economic results to the local community and is positioned as one of Middle Tennessee?s premier annual events. Since its inception in 1998, the Bowl has produced a $93 million economic impact in Middle Tennessee; more than 394,000 fans have attended the games; more than 93,000 local hotel rooms have been occupied; and more than $13 million has been contributed to the participating universities. ?Bridgestone Americas is pleased to be a part of the inaugural match-up of the SEC and ACC at this year\'s Bowl,? said Chris Karbowiak, vice president, public affairs. ?We\'re confident that this year\'s game will provide college football fans the kind of excitement and energy that they have come to expect from first class college contests, and we\'re proud to have our name associated with this great Nashville holiday tradition.? And ESPN agrees. ?The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl has been a key game in our Bowl Week lineup since its inception,? said Dave Brown, vice president, ESPN programming and acquisitions. \"ESPN is extremely pleased to continue our relationship through the 2013 game in the great city of Nashville. With this new set of agreements, Scott Ramsey and his team have the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl very well positioned for tremendous growth.? About the Bowl The Gaylord Music City Bowl Presented By Bridgestone (501 c-3 not-for-profit) is an annual post-season collegiate bowl featuring the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conferences. This year?s game will be played on Dec. 29, 2006 at 12 p.m. CST at LP Field. Televised nationally to millions of viewers on ESPN, the Bowl is Nashville?s Holiday Tradition. For more information, call the Bowl office at 615-743-3130 or visit the Bowl online at MusicCityBowl.com.