Texas Vs. The Nation All Star Game Leaves El Paso
Texas Vs. The Nation, the college football all star game that has been played in El Paso for four years, will now be played in San Antonio, according to an announcement by Rave Marketing.
The game pits NFL draft-eligible college seniors from Texas teams against the best college seniors from around the nation. It will now be played in San Antonio’s Alamo Dome starting Feb. 5, 2011.
“As the Mayor of El Paso, I am proud to say that Texas vs. the Nation was born in El Paso and it had a positive impact on our city during the last three years,” El Paso Mayor John Cook said in a statement. “We had a great relationship with the bowl game, the players and its organizers. On behalf of the City of El Paso, we wish Mr. (Kenny) Hansmire, the NFL, and the Football Hall of Fame the best of luck as the event moves to San Antonio, Texas. It will certainly continue to grow into a very successful football event.”
Last month, the City of El Paso and the game’s organizers sparred over funding for the game provided by the city. The city has given $200,000 to the game every year but said it now wanted proof it was getting a return on the investment.
At a city budget meeting in late July, City Rep. Beto O’Rourke asked Rave Marketing’s Gina Roe-Davis for that proof.
“The Texas Vs. The Nation game is still in its infancy, going on its fifth year, however we are very, very proud of our child,” Roe-Davis said during the meeting.
O’Rourke questioned how much support the game was really getting.
“I don’t know that I have from the professionals in this community the confidence that this game is producing the support that you and Mr. (Kenny) Hansmire say it is.”
When attendance for the game fell from 42,000 in 2009 to 27,000 this year, Texas Vs. The Nation CEO Kenny Hansmire had harsh words for El Paso.
“El Paso wants to be an NFL town? Good luck,” he said after this year’s game.
Hansmire later apologized for his comments.
Hansmire told ABC-7 on Monday that leaving for San Antonio had nothing to do with City Council’s new requirements for the game.
