Edit: Thread was originally about B'ham Magic city classic, but I just changed it to be about Birmingham AL in general 
Edit: Thread was originally about B'ham Magic city classic, but I just changed it to be about Birmingham AL in general
Birmingham is spending $1.35 million on the 75th Magic City Classic this year, according to information released today by the mayor's office.
The Magic City Classic is the largest city-sponsored event and has an economic impact of $18 million on the Birmingham area, according to the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau. The 2015 event had 50,000 attendees.
Birmingham spending $1.35 million on Magic City Classic; here's where the money goes
October 29 will mark the 75th Annual Magic City Classic, a milestone in the long-standing rivalry between the football teams (and marching bands) of Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University. The event’s been around for much longer than just 75 years — the first Magic City Classic was held in 1924 — but it didn’t become a yearly occurrence until 1945.
Since then, the Magic City Classic has become a major part of Birmingham’s cultural DNA, with tens of thousands of fans converging on Legion Field every year to cheer on their teams, either from within the stadium or from the massive tailgate parties going on outside.
The Magic City Classic’s growth has become particularly prominent in recent years. It’s attracted celebrities including Ice Cube, Bootsy Collins, Steve Harvey and Willie Mays to serve as “Ambassadors” to the event — Atlanta-based rapper Ludacris holds that title this year — and it’s become the largest HBCU football classic in the country. “The classic is steadily moving closer to the goal of a sell-out crowd of 70,000,” wrote HBCU Lifestyle in 2014; the event’s website notes that organizers expect that this will be the year that it happens.
In anticipation of the big weekend, here’s a sampling of events — both official and unofficial — that are part of the celebration.
Tuesday, October 25
Ole School Magic City Classic Kick-Off Concert
Birmingham Museum of Art. 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd. It’s not often that Mayor William Bell and the Birmingham City Council can be seen working together, but here’s an opportunity. This concert, which features performances by Cheryl Pepsii Riley and Shirley Murdock, gets the weekend’s festivities off to an early start. The event, which is hosted by DJ Chris Coleman and Isis Jones, is free and open to the public. 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday, October 27
Natural Hair and Health Expo Pep Rally
Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. 2101 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Sponsored by the alumni associations of both AAMU and ASU, this event features a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres — as well as “team cheers and spirit.” 7 p.m. $15. For more information visitmagiccityclassic.com/schedule-of-events.
Rickey Smiley Karaoke Live After Hours
Merienda Lounge. Featuring the cast of RSMS. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the event begins at 7 p.m. $15.
Magic City Kickoff Party
Platinum of Birmingham. 821 Second Ave. N. Party late into the night with Houston-based rapper Devin the Dude. Doors open at 5 p.m.; no cover until 8 p.m. The show begins at 11:30 p.m. For more information visit platinumofbham.com or call 205-324-0791.
Hot Afterwork Affair (and After the Afterwork Affair)
Steel. 2300 First Ave. N. Hot 107.7 hosts this event, which features R&B singer (and Motown signee) Kevin Ross. Then, afterward, the party goes on with Dreezy and DJ Luke Nasty. For more information visit 1stand23rd.com.
Friday, October 28
Rickey Smiley Morning Show Live Broadcast.
BJCC Concert Hall. Kick things off bright and early on Friday with this free show. Doors open at 4:30 a.m.; the show starts at 5 a.m.
Kings & Queens Day Party: The 2016 Kick-Off
The Wine Loft. 2200 First Ave. N. Hosted by TyressaTy, this 21+ event will feature an open bar and music by DJ Jukebox. The event is sponsored in part by ASU and AAMU alumni. Tickets are $10 in advance. 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visitclassickingsandqueensdayparty16.eventbrite.com.
Alabama A&M and Alabama State Friday Seafood Bash.
Homestyle Kitchen. 541-B Graymont Ave. W. This event, located next to Legion Field, is billed as a “party with a purpose,” raising money to fight cancer — and excitement for the big game. Seafood will be prepared by Chef Julia May; DJ CJ Stickman will provide the music. $40 pre-donations go to the Chef Julia May Cancer Foundation. 6 p.m. For more information call 205-229-0606.
Magic City Music Fest
Legacy Arena at the BJCC. 1001 19th St. N. Featuring performers Bell Biv DeVoe, Mint Condition, Doug E. Fresh and Jagged Edge. 7:30 p.m. $45-$75. For more information visit bit.ly/2dylORc.
The A-List: Magic City Classic Weekend Jumpoff
Magnolia House. 916 23rd St. S. The “A” in A-List stands, in this case, for alumni. Graduates of both schools are invited to this event, sponsored by both schools’ young alumni associations. Hosted by “JU” and “DWOOD.” Doors open at 9 p.m. For more information call 205-383-8915.
Insomnia Block Party
Steel. 2300 First Ave. N. Steel hosts an all-day party on Friday, but things heat up in the evening — and into the early morning — with performances by R&B singer Tank, Elle Varner and Anthony David. From 3 p.m. until 3 a.m. For more information, visit 1stand23rd.com.
Saturday, October 29
McDonald’s Magic City Classic Parade
Downtown Birmingham. 8 a.m. This massive event features marching bands from around the state. For more information visitmagiccityclassic.com/parade-participants.
Coors Light Pre-Game Tailgate Party
Legion Field (West Side). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This side of the tailgate party — AAMU’s side — will feature the crew behind 95.7 Jamz. The event will be hosted by Raven Washington, with DJing by DJ Trouble and Fresh the DJ. Starting at noon there will be performances by Young Joc, Black Montana, Polo PJ, and more.
Ford Tailgate Takeover
Legion Field (East Side). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Or, you can check out theother side of the tailgate party — the side designated for ASU fans.
Magic City Classic Kickoff
Legion Field. 3 p.m. The game itself begins. To purchase tickets, visitmagiccityclassic.com.
Halftime
Legion Field. Will feature an appearance by celebrity ambassador Ludacris and the battle of the bands featuring the Alabama A&M Marching Maroon and White Band and the ASU Mighty Marching Hornets.
Post-Game Concert
Legion Field. The Magic City Classic’s celebrity ambassador Ludacris will perform the official post-game concert.
Magic City Classic #1NO
Levels at 16th. 1612 Third Ave. N. It’s pronounced “One Night Only.” Finish out the weekend with fans of both team under one roof — “the biggest collaboration since peanut butter and jelly,” organizers claim. This after party will feature performances by DJ Skeme, DJ Don GE, DJ Zippy and Torrey Davone.
Tickets:
Tickets can be purchased online, and are $35 each for reserved tickets or $25 general admission. Commemorative tickets (mailed out after the game) are also available for an additional $5. Tickets for the pep rally are $12.
Magic City Classic 2016 Fan Guide: Football, Ludacris, tickets, parking, more
Birmingham is spending $1.35 million on the 75th Magic City Classic this year, according to information released today by the mayor's office.
The Magic City Classic is the largest city-sponsored event and has an economic impact of $18 million on the Birmingham area, according to the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau. The 2015 event had 50,000 attendees.
Birmingham spending $1.35 million on Magic City Classic; here's where the money goes
October 29 will mark the 75th Annual Magic City Classic, a milestone in the long-standing rivalry between the football teams (and marching bands) of Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University. The event’s been around for much longer than just 75 years — the first Magic City Classic was held in 1924 — but it didn’t become a yearly occurrence until 1945.
Since then, the Magic City Classic has become a major part of Birmingham’s cultural DNA, with tens of thousands of fans converging on Legion Field every year to cheer on their teams, either from within the stadium or from the massive tailgate parties going on outside.
The Magic City Classic’s growth has become particularly prominent in recent years. It’s attracted celebrities including Ice Cube, Bootsy Collins, Steve Harvey and Willie Mays to serve as “Ambassadors” to the event — Atlanta-based rapper Ludacris holds that title this year — and it’s become the largest HBCU football classic in the country. “The classic is steadily moving closer to the goal of a sell-out crowd of 70,000,” wrote HBCU Lifestyle in 2014; the event’s website notes that organizers expect that this will be the year that it happens.
In anticipation of the big weekend, here’s a sampling of events — both official and unofficial — that are part of the celebration.
Tuesday, October 25
Ole School Magic City Classic Kick-Off Concert
Birmingham Museum of Art. 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd. It’s not often that Mayor William Bell and the Birmingham City Council can be seen working together, but here’s an opportunity. This concert, which features performances by Cheryl Pepsii Riley and Shirley Murdock, gets the weekend’s festivities off to an early start. The event, which is hosted by DJ Chris Coleman and Isis Jones, is free and open to the public. 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday, October 27
Natural Hair and Health Expo Pep Rally
Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. 2101 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Sponsored by the alumni associations of both AAMU and ASU, this event features a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres — as well as “team cheers and spirit.” 7 p.m. $15. For more information visitmagiccityclassic.com/schedule-of-events.
Rickey Smiley Karaoke Live After Hours
Merienda Lounge. Featuring the cast of RSMS. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the event begins at 7 p.m. $15.
Magic City Kickoff Party
Platinum of Birmingham. 821 Second Ave. N. Party late into the night with Houston-based rapper Devin the Dude. Doors open at 5 p.m.; no cover until 8 p.m. The show begins at 11:30 p.m. For more information visit platinumofbham.com or call 205-324-0791.
Hot Afterwork Affair (and After the Afterwork Affair)
Steel. 2300 First Ave. N. Hot 107.7 hosts this event, which features R&B singer (and Motown signee) Kevin Ross. Then, afterward, the party goes on with Dreezy and DJ Luke Nasty. For more information visit 1stand23rd.com.
Friday, October 28
Rickey Smiley Morning Show Live Broadcast.
BJCC Concert Hall. Kick things off bright and early on Friday with this free show. Doors open at 4:30 a.m.; the show starts at 5 a.m.
Kings & Queens Day Party: The 2016 Kick-Off
The Wine Loft. 2200 First Ave. N. Hosted by TyressaTy, this 21+ event will feature an open bar and music by DJ Jukebox. The event is sponsored in part by ASU and AAMU alumni. Tickets are $10 in advance. 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visitclassickingsandqueensdayparty16.eventbrite.com.
Alabama A&M and Alabama State Friday Seafood Bash.
Homestyle Kitchen. 541-B Graymont Ave. W. This event, located next to Legion Field, is billed as a “party with a purpose,” raising money to fight cancer — and excitement for the big game. Seafood will be prepared by Chef Julia May; DJ CJ Stickman will provide the music. $40 pre-donations go to the Chef Julia May Cancer Foundation. 6 p.m. For more information call 205-229-0606.
Magic City Music Fest
Legacy Arena at the BJCC. 1001 19th St. N. Featuring performers Bell Biv DeVoe, Mint Condition, Doug E. Fresh and Jagged Edge. 7:30 p.m. $45-$75. For more information visit bit.ly/2dylORc.
The A-List: Magic City Classic Weekend Jumpoff
Magnolia House. 916 23rd St. S. The “A” in A-List stands, in this case, for alumni. Graduates of both schools are invited to this event, sponsored by both schools’ young alumni associations. Hosted by “JU” and “DWOOD.” Doors open at 9 p.m. For more information call 205-383-8915.
Insomnia Block Party
Steel. 2300 First Ave. N. Steel hosts an all-day party on Friday, but things heat up in the evening — and into the early morning — with performances by R&B singer Tank, Elle Varner and Anthony David. From 3 p.m. until 3 a.m. For more information, visit 1stand23rd.com.
Saturday, October 29
McDonald’s Magic City Classic Parade
Downtown Birmingham. 8 a.m. This massive event features marching bands from around the state. For more information visitmagiccityclassic.com/parade-participants.
Coors Light Pre-Game Tailgate Party
Legion Field (West Side). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This side of the tailgate party — AAMU’s side — will feature the crew behind 95.7 Jamz. The event will be hosted by Raven Washington, with DJing by DJ Trouble and Fresh the DJ. Starting at noon there will be performances by Young Joc, Black Montana, Polo PJ, and more.
Ford Tailgate Takeover
Legion Field (East Side). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Or, you can check out theother side of the tailgate party — the side designated for ASU fans.
Magic City Classic Kickoff
Legion Field. 3 p.m. The game itself begins. To purchase tickets, visitmagiccityclassic.com.
Halftime
Legion Field. Will feature an appearance by celebrity ambassador Ludacris and the battle of the bands featuring the Alabama A&M Marching Maroon and White Band and the ASU Mighty Marching Hornets.
Post-Game Concert
Legion Field. The Magic City Classic’s celebrity ambassador Ludacris will perform the official post-game concert.
Magic City Classic #1NO
Levels at 16th. 1612 Third Ave. N. It’s pronounced “One Night Only.” Finish out the weekend with fans of both team under one roof — “the biggest collaboration since peanut butter and jelly,” organizers claim. This after party will feature performances by DJ Skeme, DJ Don GE, DJ Zippy and Torrey Davone.
Tickets:
Tickets can be purchased online, and are $35 each for reserved tickets or $25 general admission. Commemorative tickets (mailed out after the game) are also available for an additional $5. Tickets for the pep rally are $12.
Magic City Classic 2016 Fan Guide: Football, Ludacris, tickets, parking, more
Admitted fukkery
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...Young Joc "reality tv superstar" 
