McDonald’s and Coca-Cola United partnered up once again to help bring an amazing experience to Birmingham, Alabama – the Magic City Classic and on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 11a.m. organizers of the event held a press conference allowing an opportunity for the people who make the classic possible to speak and tell us what makes this event so special every year.
The Magic City Classic football rivalry is the largest historically Black College and university classic in the country and it features a weeklong event filled with festivities in Birmingham, Alabama.
According to Eventive Sports Vice President of Collegiate and Amatuer Sports Perren King, fans from 36 states have already purchased tickets to the game on Saturday, Oct. 28 which proves how popular the classic is not only in the south, but all over the country. It is also the largest guaranteed payout in HBCU history.
King says that they are trying to find new ways to stay fresh and exciting for the younger generation.
“Anything 82 years old has to find ways to stay relevant. One of the new things for this year as we try to connect with the younger audience, We have Tik Tok star and Birmingham native ‘Roll it up KK Hood’ will be the end game MC.”
Former chairman of the board of trustees for Alabama State University, and McDonald’s owner, Larry Thornton, expressed his excitement for the game on Saturday.
“We’re getting ready for some exciting football,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a mighty fine game and McDonald’s is excited to be a part of it. We stand for education, and I can say the same thing about Coca-Cola. Let’s not forget the real reason for all the excitement, these two paramount institutions that produce so many leaders across our state and country.”
Both teams are playing for the golden trophy that the winner will get to take home until the two teams meet again the next year. Last season, the Hornets defeated the Bulldogs in head coach Eddie Robinson Jr.’s first season as head coach.
Bulldogs Head Coach Connell Maynor spoke about the Magic City Classic:
“This is the greatest classic ever and one of the reasons why is because we have two great football teams and two great football coaches. Coach Robinson is a great football coach, and he broke the streak last year already in his first season.” He said. “It is a blessing to be a part of the 82nd classic. I told my players that 20 years from now they will be able to tell their son they played in the 82nd classic.”
Robinson recalls playing in the 50th Magic City Classic and how intense the rivalry is between the two schools 30 years later.
“Great time to be an Alabama State Hornet and an Alabama A&M Bulldog. I played in the 50th classic and I can remember thinking back then ‘What would it be like 30 years from now’ and now we’re here so it tells you how times goes.”
He continued.
“On the trophy it has all the scores from every classic so I started looking at all the different scores. I realized that 48 times of the Magic City Classic, the score was seven points or less. That means it came down to one score, it was a close game. That just lets you know the intense rivalry that these teams have for each other. There’s no giving up or quitting. So I think both teams are going to put that type of performance out there for the audience on Saturday.”
Other acknowledgements came from the mayor of Birmingham, Randall Woodfin, CEO of Coca Cola United, as well as two football players from each football team were acknowledged.
