An Iowan is about to wrap up a 16-year run on a live television broadcast shown in more than two dozen states.
Mike Pace will host his final Powerball drawing at 9:59 tonight. He’s announced the winning numbers every Wednesday and Saturday night since 1992 from a studio in West Des Moines.
Iowa Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer says Pace’s final broadcast will take place from the Virgin Islands. "The Virgin Islands joined the Powerball game a couple years ago and there’s never been a broadcast from there, so he’s going to go down with his tuxedo…and will do his last broadcast from there," Neubauer said.
On January 4th, Florida will join the Powerball game and take over as the host state for the drawing. Pace will no longer be the announcer. With the addition of the Sunshine State, changes are being made to the Powerball game for only the fifth time in its history.
"The end result is there’s going to be one more ball in the mix," Neubauer said. "It’s going to lengthen the odds for winning the jackpot, but improve the odds for winning any prize in the game."
Neubauer says Powerball tickets will still cost one-dollar and the game’s headquarters will remain in Urbandale. The last drawing televised from Iowa will happen this Saturday. Polly Carver-Kimm will serve as host.
AUDIO: Radio Iowa’s Pat Curtis report Mike Pace and Powerball. :62 MP3