Meineke Bowl gets Dec. 26 date

The 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte will be played at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26 at Bank of America Stadium, bowl executive director Will Webb said Thursday.

Raycom Sports, which owns and operates the bowl, will make a formal announcement later this afternoon.

ESPN will televise the game. Webb said he was pleased with the time because it should give the bowl a chance to post a high television rating.

Webb expected that the Saturday date will be good for viewership and the 4:30 p.m. time will help ratings in the Pacific time zone. Webb acknowledged that playing the day after Christmas might create a slight obstacle for fans in terms of attendance, but was optimistic that the bowl will be able to continue its tradition of large crowds.

“For us and for our sponsors, it’s a great day,” Webb said. “If we get a team within driving distance, it gives them plenty of time to get here (after Christmas). If we get a team from farther away, there are lots of flights coming into Charlotte.”

In its eighth year, bowl officials are looking to continue the bowl’s history of high attendance and TV ratings. The bowl has had three sellouts, including a crowd of 73-712 last year as West Virginia edged North Carolina 31-30.

Last year’s bowl posted a 4.51 rating on ESPN that was fifth-highest among bowls on cable.