WAIKIKI BEACH, OAHU, HAWAII—Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Hawaii, members of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., announced the extension of its agreement with ESPN Regional Television to remain the title sponsor of the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl for 2006 – 2009. The announcement was made by Pete Derzis, senior vice-president for ESPN Regional in a press conference held today at Sheraton Waikiki. The agreement includes the addition of a participating team from Pacific–10 Conference to compete against a Western Athletic Conference team in 2006 and 2008. A Conference USA team will compete against a WAC team in 2007 and 2009.

“The type of exposure that comes with Sheraton’s partnership with ESPN for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl is a great opportunity for the destination of Hawaii to be seen in more than 86 million households across the United States,” said Keith Vieira, senior vice president and director of operations, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii and French Polynesia.

When the 2002 title sponsor of the Hawaii Bowl, ConAgra Foods, dropped out, negotiations began with Kyo-ya Company, Ltd., owner of the four Sheratons in Waikiki, to help keep the event in Hawaii.

“Kyo-ya has for a long time supported positive events that impact our local community,” said Ernest Nishizaki, senior vice president and chief operating officer, Kyo-ya Company Ltd. “The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl brings to our community a bowl game to represent our state, along with the opportunity for our University of Hawaii Warriors to participate in that game.”

This year’s game between Nevada (WAC) and UCF (C-USA) will be televised live on ESPN from Aloha Stadium on December 24, 2005 at 8:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. HST). The two competing teams are housed at Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Moana Surfrider.