SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Celebrating its 50^th edition this season, the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe will honor NBA broadcasting icon Al McCoy as Grand Marshal for the Saturday, December 17, march through Central Phoenix.

McCoy moved to Arizona from his native Iowa and was named the "Voice of the Suns" in 1972, setting the course for a career that includes the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He is a shining example of the Parade's theme of "Legends Made Here" to honor the contributions of community icons who made their mark here in the state of Arizona.

The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe Grand Marshal honors an individual or group whose actions align with the Fiesta Bowl's commitment to driving economic growth, championing charitable causes and executing innovative experiences.

"Wow! I can't tell you how excited I am," said McCoy. "Being the Grand Marshal for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe is really a special honor. I can hardly wait to go down the Parade route."

Entering his 51^st season with the Phoenix Suns, McCoy has called the most significant moments in Suns history, bringing the excitement of the action into the homes of Suns fans across the state. McCoy has become synonymous with the team and is the longest-tenured NBA broadcaster in NBA history. Fans in Arizona are familiar with signature phrases like "Shazam" for a Suns made three-pointer and "Wham Bam Slam" after a highlight dunk.

"When you think about Legends Made Here in Arizona, Hall of Fame Broadcaster Al McCoy is a shining example of a true legend who has been a household name in Arizona for 50 years. We are thrilled to honor Al as the Grand Marshal of our Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe," said Fiesta Bowl Board Chair Randal Norton. "We are equally excited to welcome Vrbo as our Fiesta Bowl Parade title partner and we know that together we will elevate the pageantry of the Parade to new heights."

After first joining the Fiesta Bowl Organization as title partner of the Fiesta Bowl game, Vrbo has enhanced its partnership with the Fiesta Bowl as title partner for the Fiesta Bowl Parade. Both organizations have a commitment to bring people together to make memories that last a lifetime.

In addition to the naming rights of the Fiesta Bowl Parade and Vrbo Fiesta Bowl game, Vrbo (pronounced 'ver-boh') becomes the official travel sponsor of the College Football Playoff. With the Fiesta Bowl, Vrbo will enjoy a fully-integrated partnership that incorporates fan activations, digital and social media, content, in-stadium exposure and inclusion at other year-round Fiesta Bowl organization events. Additionally, Vrbo ads will be televised throughout the college football season on ESPN.
Past Fiesta Bowl Parade Grand Marshals include Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, Suns legend Charles Barkley, Alice Cooper, Randy Johnson, Cal Ripken, Jr., John Cena and several Olympic gold medalists among the dignitaries to lead the Parade down the two-mile route in Central Phoenix.

For the second straight season, the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe will enjoy its own spotlight by moving two weeks prior to gameday for the state's highest-attended single-day event on Saturday, December 17. Admission is free to the public with premium and reserved seating now available for sale at $30. The Parade is broadcast live on Arizona's Family 3TV, online and through the AZFamily app.

A combination of more than 3,000 men, women, children and animals participate in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe annually – which features various brilliantly colored floats, giant balloons, antique cars, equestrian units, charitable groups, local celebrities, marching bands and more. The Fiesta Bowl invites groups to submit an application by Friday, September 23, 2022 to join in on the historic parade.

For more information about the events, the application process and to purchase tickets, please visit www.FiestaBowl.org/parade.
 
ABOUT THE FIESTA BOWL ORGANIZATION
Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education.

ABOUT VRBO
In 1995, Vrbo introduced a new way for people to travel together, pairing homeowners with families and friends looking for places to stay. We were grounded in one purpose: To give people the space they need to drop the distractions of everyday life and simply be together. Since then, we've grown into a global community of homeowners and travelers, with unique properties around the world. Vrbo makes it easy and fun to book cabins, condos, beach houses and every kind of space in between. Vrbo is part of Expedia Group and offers homeowners and property managers exposure to over 750 million visits to Expedia Group sites each month. To learn more, visit www.vrbo.com.

 
ABOUT LERNER & ROWE INJURY ATTORNEYS
Attorneys Glen Lerner and Kevin Rowe have grown Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys into one of the largest personal injury firms in the country with 11 locations just in Arizona, over 50 total attorneys, and more than 350 total support staff. The law firm's continuous exalted levels of success can be attributed to the high levels of respect and dignity shown to victims and family members hurt in an accident. Further, the firm takes pride in nourishing these relationships as they know a personal injury attorney can make all the difference in obtaining fair compensation for the pain and suffering inflicted upon the victims of tortious conduct. Learn more about the firm and the many other community services they support at LernerAndRowe.com, LernerAndRoweGivesBack.com, and @LernerAndRowe on Instagram.

Media Contact: Scott Leightman (sleightman@fiestabowl.org; 480.517.6291)