During the 19th century Charles Caleb Colton, an English cleric and writer, came up with the famous statement, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
If that phrase is true, then the organizers and supporters of Circle City Classic should definitely feel flattered. As a result of their work, observers in other cities have been inspired to launch their own Classic games.
“Just as the Bayou Classic was the model for us, we have been able to serve as a model for several other budding classic activities,” said Vernon Williams, a spokesman for Circle City Classic. “In many cases, when they started getting organized they came to our event to take notes and figure out how to get some things done.”
Classic games are annual football matches between teams from Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs). The oldest game is the Turkey Day Classic, which has been held in Montgomery, Ala., between Tuskegee and Alabama State since 1924.
When the inaugural Circle City Classic game took place at the Hoosier Dome in 1983, it was the first of its kind in the Midwest. At that time, the majority of Classic games were hosted in cities and venues across the South, where most HBCUs are located.
When Circle City Classic reached what some say was its height during the late 1980s and early 1990s, other Midwestern states took notice. Since then, several other cities in the region have created annual Classic events, such as the Chicago Football Classic, the Cleveland Classic, the Detroit Football Classic and the St. Louis Gateway Classic.
Competition from neighbors?
It may be great that Circle City Classic has inspired similar activities in other Midwestern cities. However, some may wonder if the presence of other Classics has produced competition that can take away potential out-of-town participants from the Indianapolis event. After all, most of the Midwestern Classics have been held in September, shortly before Circle City Classic.
Organizers say other regional Classics have not adversely impacted Circle City Classic at all. Williams noted that some of the other Midwestern Classics are either now defunct or struggling. The St. Louis Gateway Classic, for example, has recently switched its focus from hosting a potentially expensive game to direct fundraising for scholarships.
“We’re faring very well comparably,” Williams said. “Even though we have experienced, like all Classics have nationally, some reduction in attendance due primarily to the economy, the fact is that we have survived the worst of it and have actually begun to see a slight turnaround.”
Williams added that Circle City Classic has also continued to reach out to attendees from other cities, especially those within a 500-mile driving radius, with a comprehensive marketing campaign.
That campaign has included radio advertisements in various markets throughout the Midwest, frequent press releases, interviews with media outlets across the country and Circle City Classic’s “most aggressive” social media campaign ever.
“People in other areas have already responded to what they have seen on Facebook and Twitter and have responded by purchasing tickets,” Williams said. “We have been pretty intense in terms of our outreach.”
In addition, Circle City Classic has had an advertising presence at well attended events such as the Taste of Chicago, the Honda Battle of the Bands in North Carolina and popular hair shows in Atlanta.
Advocates of Circle City Classic note that the event may need to be promoted, but it does not have to compete against other Classics in order to survive. Circle City Classic remains popular in large part, they say, because it offers a variety of activities that attendees continue to anticipate and appreciate.
During the first week of October, participants can enjoy not just the headlining football game, but also a parade, concerts, a comedy show, a college fair and other events.
“Classic was designed as an event, and not just an average football game,” said state Rep. Bill Crawford, who was once president of Indiana Black Expo and one of several leaders involved in organizing the first Circle City Classic.
Crawford added that Indianapolis can be proud to have institutions like Indiana Black Expo and Circle City Classic.
He and Williams encourage local residents to continue to support college students by participating in Circle City Classic activities.
“When we look at the mission of Circle City Classic, it is to help generate additional scholarship funds for our students,” Crawford said. “It is the most visible vehicle we have here to sustain our future.”
For more information about Circle City Classic, visit circlecityclassic.com.
