Orange Bowl scraps planned sponsorship

Published Dec. 23, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Orange Bowl officials say they've scrapped a planned sponsorship deal with Camacho Cigars.

Orange Bowl spokesman Larry Wahl said in an email Friday that after mutual review, it was determined that it would not be appropriate to go forward with the sponsorship.

The planned sponsorship called for a large presence at several game-day events, including lounges where fans could light up. The three-year deal included the 2013 BCS National Championship. Wahl says that plans were limited to non-game events geared toward adults.

This week, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, Frank Lautenberg and Richard Blumenthal, as well as several public health groups, asked bowl officials and the NCAA to reconsider the deal. They argued that promoting cigars at the Orange Bowl would send the wrong message to young fans.