Shreveport City Councilman Willie Bradford wanted Independence Bowl Executive Director Missy Setters to appear at the Shreveport City Council last week to answer questions about the 2017 Bowl , specifically did the Bowl have a corporate title sponsor and would the Bowl be played this year? Setters advised Council clerk Art Thompson that she had a calendar conflict--and no title sponsor yet for the Bowl.
Setters should be subpoenaed to the next Council meeting to answer questions in person. The Bowl is funded $100,000 by the City of Shreveport and it has a sweetheart lease with the City of Independence Stadium. Additionally the City is funding improvements to the stadium including the scoreboard .
The required payoff for the Bowl is $1.5 million. The hotel motel tax generates less than $600.000 for the Bowl. How the balance of funds for the Bowl payoff is a question that needs to be answered in front of the City Council...like at its next meeting on September 26. And whether or not the Bowl will be played this year.