University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Announces Hope Gas, Inc. as Presenting Sponsor for Backyard Brawl
8/19/2022 9:00:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department announced today a multi-year partnership that will make Hope Gas the presenting sponsor of the 2022 renewed rivalry between Pitt and West Virginia.
The Backyard Brawl presented by Hope Gas will be played on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m., before an overflow crowd at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium and a national ESPN television audience. The historic rivals will meet on the football field for the first time since 2011.
Hope Gas will serve as the presenting sponsor for the 2022 and 2024 iterations of the Backyard Brawl contests in Pittsburgh.
"We are proud to announce our new partnership with Hope Gas and greatly appreciate its commitment as the presenting sponsor of this historic game," Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "Pitt Athletics looks forward to many great collaborations with Hope Gas as we celebrate the return of the Pitt-West Virginia rivalry."
Bringing Pitt Athletics and Hope Gas together in this exciting collaboration was JMI Sports, Pitt's media rights holder. The partnership will be showcased through various branding, social media, activation and community assets.
"What better way for us to celebrate bringing back Hope Gas to the families and businesses of West Virginia with the tradition and history of this regional classic college football rivalry," stated Morgan O'Brien, Hope Gas President & CEO. "I'm always a fan of celebrating the future and we had to be part of bringing back the Backyard Brawl."
Pitt-West Virginia is not only one of college football's most colorful rivalries, but also one of the oldest. The inaugural game was played in 1895. The 104 all-time meetings (the last occurring in 2011) are the most for either school against an opponent. Pitt leads the series, 61-40-3.
The Panthers enter the season ranked as high as No. 16 in the national polls. Pitt is coming off a historic 2021 campaign, winning 11 games and capturing the first Atlantic Coast Conference championship in program history.
About Pitt Athletics
The University of Pittsburgh's intercollegiate athletics history dates back to 1869, when the university began to field a baseball team. Today, Pitt sponsors 19 varsity sports—nine men's teams and 10 women's programs—with more than 475 student-athletes vying for conference, regional and national honors. The Panthers are proud members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, one of the country's most prestigious and accomplished athletic conferences. Pitt's rich athletics history includes national championships in football (nine) and basketball (two). Pitt also boasts Olympic gold-medal performances in track, and silver and bronze medals in diving and basketball.
About Hope Gas, Inc.
Founded in 1898, 235 separate companies contributed to Hope's corporate ancestry – including a company founded by George Washington and James Madison. Hope Gas is now one of the largest local natural gas distribution companies ("LDCs") in West Virginia. With approximately 3,200 miles of main and 2,000 miles of gathering pipes, Hope Gas serves over 111,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 35 counties in West Virginia and employs over 300 people.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Backyard Brawl presented by Hope Gas will be played on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m., before an overflow crowd at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium and a national ESPN television audience. The historic rivals will meet on the football field for the first time since 2011.
Hope Gas will serve as the presenting sponsor for the 2022 and 2024 iterations of the Backyard Brawl contests in Pittsburgh.
"We are proud to announce our new partnership with Hope Gas and greatly appreciate its commitment as the presenting sponsor of this historic game," Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "Pitt Athletics looks forward to many great collaborations with Hope Gas as we celebrate the return of the Pitt-West Virginia rivalry."
Bringing Pitt Athletics and Hope Gas together in this exciting collaboration was JMI Sports, Pitt's media rights holder. The partnership will be showcased through various branding, social media, activation and community assets.
"What better way for us to celebrate bringing back Hope Gas to the families and businesses of West Virginia with the tradition and history of this regional classic college football rivalry," stated Morgan O'Brien, Hope Gas President & CEO. "I'm always a fan of celebrating the future and we had to be part of bringing back the Backyard Brawl."
Pitt-West Virginia is not only one of college football's most colorful rivalries, but also one of the oldest. The inaugural game was played in 1895. The 104 all-time meetings (the last occurring in 2011) are the most for either school against an opponent. Pitt leads the series, 61-40-3.
The Panthers enter the season ranked as high as No. 16 in the national polls. Pitt is coming off a historic 2021 campaign, winning 11 games and capturing the first Atlantic Coast Conference championship in program history.
About Pitt Athletics
The University of Pittsburgh's intercollegiate athletics history dates back to 1869, when the university began to field a baseball team. Today, Pitt sponsors 19 varsity sports—nine men's teams and 10 women's programs—with more than 475 student-athletes vying for conference, regional and national honors. The Panthers are proud members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, one of the country's most prestigious and accomplished athletic conferences. Pitt's rich athletics history includes national championships in football (nine) and basketball (two). Pitt also boasts Olympic gold-medal performances in track, and silver and bronze medals in diving and basketball.
About Hope Gas, Inc.
Founded in 1898, 235 separate companies contributed to Hope's corporate ancestry – including a company founded by George Washington and James Madison. Hope Gas is now one of the largest local natural gas distribution companies ("LDCs") in West Virginia. With approximately 3,200 miles of main and 2,000 miles of gathering pipes, Hope Gas serves over 111,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 35 counties in West Virginia and employs over 300 people.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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