PROVO -- Provo City received an additional title Thursday afternoon. It will now be known as Cougar Town on football game day.
The announcement came Thursday afternoon from LaVell Edwards Stadium where Provo City Mayor Lewis Billings made the formal declaration. BYU Athletics Director Tom Holmoe and Head Football Coach Bronco Mendenhall also spoke at the ceremony.
Cougar Town is a collaborative effort between BYU athletics department, Provo City and Corporate Alliance, representing hundreds of Utah County businesses. Cougar Town's purpose is to unite community support inside Utah County for BYU athletics and create an exciting game-day atmosphere comparable to many great college towns for home football games.
As part of the creation, Mayor Billings officially dissolved and expanded the borders of Provo for BYU's six home football games. LaVell Edwards Stadium was declared as the seat of government for Cougar Town.
"This isn't just a football thing," Holmoe said. "This is Cougar Athletics. This is Cougar Town. This is our town."
The Cougar Town project will extend the game-day atmosphere for BYU football games throughout the community, including street banners on University Avenue and University Parkway, painted logos in city intersections and Cougar Town flags hanging from businesses. It will provide area businesses an avenue to unite in support of BYU athletics and ignite new excitement before, during and after BYU athletics.
Mendenhall acknowledged a new support in relation to a lack of some support recently. "I know your support is conditional, as I've said in every speech so far. I expect it to be conditional," Mendenhall told the crowd. "However when we play well and when we execute to the level that you think meets your expectations, then I expect to drive through the streets and this town feels different than it does right now. Is that fair?"
"We now formally invite each of you to become citizens of the world's geographically largest, most highly populated and most importantly, most spirited city, Cougar Town," Mayor Billings stated.
The project will also drive additional business to participating businesses through many means, including an interactive Cougar Town website. It will also provide an avenue for fans around the world to feel a part of BYU athletics.