Gator Bowl Now the Progressive Gator Bowl

Submitted by MGoShoe on

Get ready for a New Year's Day heaping helping of Flo as the Gator Bowl has signed on Progressive Insurance as its title sponsor.

Progressive Insurance said it has signed a one-year deal to become the new title sponsor of the Gator Bowl, beginning with the Jan. 1, 2011 game. The pact has a three-year option. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Mayfield Village, Ohio-based company is expected to support with national TV and local marketing, including spots featuring its always-happy-to-help sales clerk Flo (played by actress Stephanie Courtney).

According to Progressive CMO Jeff Charney, "The Gator Bowl is a fan favorite. And, this year is all about settling the SEC and Big Ten Conference superiority contest.  We're glad to be a part of it and proud to sponsor the game on behalf of our more than 25,000 employees, our more than 30,000 independent agents and the nearly 12 million people who choose Progressive."

yostlovesme

December 15th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^

HAHA WOW really?

I just got to work and im going to have this picture in my head the remainder of the day.  Do I thank you or hate you?  I used to hate Flo now I find her somewhat tolerable.

BlueintheLou

December 15th, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I hate her so damn much. She is the devil reincarnate.

I hesitate to say this, but, yes, she is worse than Pam Ward. She makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs and pierce my eardrums with a steak thermometer.

Blueroller

December 15th, 2010 at 2:57 PM ^

Amen about the lipstick. It is hideous. The whole ad campaign is as bad as it gets: visually offensive, verbally witless, and the most ubiquitous currently running. I wouldn't buy Progressive Insurance if it was cheap as the hooker Flo tries to resemble. And I wouldn't take the hooker if she was free.

My solution: when I can't skip the ads, I press mute, close my eyes and replay half a dozen Denard TD runs in my head. Then I count to 30, open my eyes and the horror is over with.

Grahambino

December 15th, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^

Definitely DVR it.  Flo will be all up on that screen.  Maybe she'll get to do the coin flip too.  So sad Pam Ward wont be doing the TV coverage for us.  Flo could make an appearance and chat it up w/ her for a while.  During that time the suicide rate for Michigan fans triples.

Tha Stunna

December 15th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^

I think insurance companies go well with the Gator bowl.  Think of the other options:

State farm: Alligator grows boobs or muscles, smiles seductively

Geico: In big text: Is it a bad idea to have dinner with an alligator?

Then show a picture of a decapitated person.

Alternatively: Alligator is about to chomp on a gecko, who shrugs while saying "At least I'm covered by Geico"

esurance: Guy buys insurance on his phone while being eaten by an alligator.

Brodie

December 15th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^

Good. The Gator Bowl has been around forever and it was pretty sad/worrying when they couldn't find a sponsor. Losing one of the last true New Year's Day bowls would have been sad.

Also, it's been sad, but go die Flo.

steviebrownfor…

December 15th, 2010 at 5:13 PM ^

where's the capitalist spirit?

as long as the sponsors don't contradict, I am surprised more bowls don't have multilple name sponsors.  It's pretty sad that the NCAA let's the sponsor name become the bowl name, anyways.  But really, how long until we are playing in the

Monster.com-Chiles'-Progressive-AIG-McDonald's Alamo Bowl

c''mon, NCAA, mandate multilple sponsors! let's make the bowl system an all-out joke!