Tens of thousands of people are expected to participate in activities associated with Circle City Classic this weekend.
At its height during the late 1980s and ‘90s, the event earned a reputation as one of the nation’s best “Classics,” which are African-American college football games that raise money for students and community programs.
“Classic, along with Indiana Black Expo’s (IBE) Summer Celebration, are unique,” said state Rep. William Crawford, D-Indianapolis, who serves on the Classic’s organizing committee. “There’s no other city that could claim two unique institutions like these that were conceived and managed by African-Americans.”
Recent developments, however, have raised concerns among some observers about the direction of Circle City Classic.
Attendance has been declining over the last 15 years, and during the 2009 Circle City Classic, the number of attendees was about 36,000, much lower than the all time high of over 70,000, according to a report from the Indianapolis Business Journal. In addition, sponsorship revenue decreased by 12 percent.
Within days of the 2009 event, Circle City Classic’s director abruptly resigned. He was not replaced by IBE, which oversaw a committee that organized Classic at the time.
Instead, IBE officials announced two months later that it would adopt a more direct role in managing Circle City Classic. They issued a statement saying more responsibility by the board of IBE would “allow for greater efficiencies and continued growth of the event.”
Last year, IBE attempted new approaches for Classic, including a segment featuring high school football teams, to boost interest. Attendance, however, still was not satisfactory.
“The crowds have been smaller; there’s no denying that. We deal in truth,” said Vernon Williams, a spokesman for IBE. “But here’s the other part of that truth: Classics have been folding across the country. Yet, ours remains viable, most of our sponsorship is loyal, and if we lose a sponsor, we are blessed with someone new. In addition, IBE is operating in the black.”
Williams added that the economy has also played a role in cutting attendance. For many families, he explained, times are harder now than they were during Classic’s heyday in the 1990s, when the unemployment rate was low.
Joe Slash, president of the Indianapolis Urban League, agrees, noting that there are two other Classic events in the region – in Chicago and St. Louis – and that most families cannot afford to support all three.
“Our Classic also has the same challenge as many others, which is more people mingling around outside of the event than in the seats,” said Slash, who was deputy mayor when the first Classic game was held in 1984 and later served as its executive coordinator. “It is a culture some have in mind that says it’s OK to go hang out downtown, but you don’t have to buy a ticket. Well, if you don’t buy a ticket to the game it will disappear, along with all the other activities you enjoy.”
In addition to attendance, concerned observers have noted recent conflicts between IBE staff and leadership, highlighted in a letter disgruntled employees released to media in May.
Could disputes within IBE have an adverse impact on Circle City Classic this weekend and in the future?
“Internal or external discontent will not interfere with Classic,” Williams said. “I don’t know anyone at IBE who doesn’t recognize what’s at stake in terms of opportunities for young people, which is what Classic is all about.”
Slash believes that regardless of what may go on inside IBE, the pride of staff members will pull them together in order to make sure they do everything necessary for Classic to be successful.
Crawford encourages people to focus on the event’s main mission.
He participated in organizing the first Classic with other city leaders and Rev. Charles Williams, longtime president of IBE.
“We saw an opportunity to bring a football game that would generate scholarship funds and help youngsters go to Historically Black Colleges,” he said. “It’s not just about a game and eating a hot dog, or hearing some music. It’s the most visible vehicle we have here to sustain our future.”
Williams noted that Circle City Classic has generated more $2 million in scholarship funds, and said IBE will keep that goal in mind at it looks toward the future.
“That is the driving force of the event and the nucleus of everything that we do,” he said. “Have we faced challenges? Absolutely, but we have reason for optimism.”
William G. “Bill” Mays, president and CEO of Mays Chemical Company and former chairman of Classic, is optimistic that the event operate smoothly once IBE leaders and staff get into the rhythm of direct management of it.
“I don’t think they realized how much work really goes into putting on the Classic, especially coming right off Summer Celebration,” Mays said.
With that in July and Classic in October, he noted, IBE volunteers do not have much “breathing room” to organize.
“That is why we always had separate staffs for IBE and Classic,” Mays said. “We will just have to see how everything is adjusted for the new arrangement.”
Slash thinks the whole community should rally to support the Classic.
“We shouldn’t just depend on out of town people to support our event,” he said. “We have enough people in this community to fill up that stadium every year.”
