Update: Orange Bowl Outlook Sunny After Cigar Sponsorship Dropped
January 04, 2012
Tonight's Orange Bowl game in Miami will kick off without the cloud of a tobacco sponsorship hanging over it: Bowl officials cancelled a planned three-year sponsorship by Camacho Cigars after public health groups, three U.S. senators and thousands of activists protested that the sponsorship would have helped market tobacco products to young fans.
The Orange Bowl Committee announced the cancellation after public health advocates sent more than 5,000 messages to the committee and to the NCAA urging them to drop the sponsorship. Ten major public health and medical groups, as well as U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, also called on the Orange Bowl to end the cigar deal.
Orange Bowl officials have sent a powerful message that tobacco use is not cool or athletic — and has no place in sports.
Thanks to everyone who took action!