PLANO, Texas, Jan. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The roar of 12,000 screaming fans, two squads of cheerleaders, two full-fledge marching bands, and even a parachuting flag bearer delivering the game ball. What sounds like a typical college football bowl game was actually the surprise party of a lifetime for a group of U.S. military veterans. On Dec. 13, 2012, 27 veterans who had previously served overseas were surprised to find out that what they thought was going to be a casual flag football game to support Got Your 6 and the Pat Tillman Foundation was actually a football party and star-studded event being hosted in their honor by Tostitos, the brand known for making anytime party time. Highlights from the "Tostitos Homecoming Party Bowl" were captured on film and will be televised nationally for the first time during tomorrow's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl broadcast on ESPN. The highlights will also be available on the Tostitos Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/Tostitos following the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl broadcast. Tostitos, one of the flagship brands from PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division has been the title sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl, part of the Bowl Championship Series, for the past 18 years.
Party Details Revealed
The U.S. military veterans, including 11 Tillman Military Scholars, arrived onsite at Cerritos College just south of Los Angeles ready to play a seemingly ordinary game of flag football to support Got Your 6 and the Pat Tillman Foundation. It was not long before they realized they were in for something much bigger. The "Tostitos Homecoming Party Bowl" surprises started to unfold as legendary coaches and players like Bobby Bowden, Urban Meyer, Kurt Warner and Marcus Allen entered the locker room to greet the unsuspecting veterans. As the veterans walked on to the field, ESPN broadcasters announced their names over the loud speakers, and actor/screenwriter Owen Wilson ran onto the field to play alongside them. Then it was announced that actor Eric Stonestreet would be reporting on the game from the sidelines. The game was action-packed, kept fans on the edge of their seats and ultimately saw Coach Urban Meyer's Team Freedom achieve victory with a score of 26-20. The once-in-a-lifetime surprise party was capped off by a performance from chart-topping musical guest, Gym Class Heroes.
"With the Tostitos brand, a party can happen anytime and anywhere," said Tony Matta, vice president, marketing, Frito-Lay. "This past December we pulled off a spectacular surprise party for an incredibly deserving group of military veterans. We can't wait to share the highlights tomorrow night as part of the Fiesta Bowl broadcast."
Fans are invited to tune in to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl broadcast on Jan. 3, 2013 on ESPN, or visit www.Facebook.com/Tostitos to re-live the surprises from the "Tostitos Homecoming Party Bowl."
The Party Doesn't Stop There
The "Tostitos Homecoming Party Bowl" may be over, but Tostitos is still bringing the party to life for consumers across the country. The brand recently launched Tostitos Cantina tortilla chips and salsas, an entirely new line of tortilla chip and salsa pairings that recreate the Mexican restaurant experience for consumers at home. New television spots highlighting the Tostitos Cantina line will debut for a nationwide audience during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and other Bowl Championship Series broadcasts. The spots include:
Grand Opening
Dinner Rush
Completely reimagined, party-centric packaging is also being introduced across the Tostitos portfolio of snacks. Tostitos brand chip bags and salsa jars now incorporate vibrant, more festive colors, a bold new logo treatment and party-themed messaging. This includes colorful "chipfetti" and vibrant rays bursting from the clear window on each package, further illustrating the look and feel of a "party in the bag." The clear window also represents the shape of the chip variety, helping consumers more easily differentiate between products. The new look and feel is designed to encourage sharing and signal "party upon sight." It even offers consumers on-pack suggestions for chip-and-dip pairings, making it easier than ever to be ready for a party whenever and wherever it happens.
For more information, please visit the Tostitos Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/Tostitos.
About Tostitos®
The Tostitos brand is one of the many brands that make up Frito-Lay North America, the $13 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. In addition to Frito-Lay, PepsiCo business units include Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Foods, Gatorade and Tropicana. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate Web site, http://www.fritolay.com/, the Snack Chat blog, http://www.snacks.com/ and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fritolay.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.
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About Got Your 6
Got Your 6 is a campaign designed to change the conversation in America such that veterans and military families are seen as civic assets and leaders who will reinvigorate our community. The campaign combines the reach and resources of the top American entertainment studios, networks, guilds and agencies with the expertise and commitment of more than two dozen non-profit organizations. Got Your 6 also enjoys the support of organizations such as Goodwill Industries. Through an extensive media footprint and a set of substantial service commitments, Got Your 6 will ensure successful reintegration of veterans into civilian life. For more information, visit www.gotyour6.org. Be the Change, Inc., an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is the organizing body and fiscal agent for Got Your 6.
About the Pat Tillman Foundation
Family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation following Pat's death in 2004 while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Created to honor Pat's legacy and pay tribute to his commitment to leadership and service, the Pat Tillman Foundation is a national leader in providing educational support and resources to veterans, active service members and their spouses. Inspired by Pat's attributes of leadership, passion for education and spirit of service, the Foundation annually awards educational scholarships through the Tillman Military Scholars program. Since the Foundation's inception, over $5 million in educational support has been invested in individuals committed to a life of service both in an out of uniform, including over $3.2 million awarded to 230 Tillman Military Scholars nationwide. For more information, visit www.pattillmanfoundation.org. For more information on the Tillman Military Scholars program, please visit www.pattillmanfoundation.org/tillman-military-scholars/.
SOURCE Frito-Lay