Teams | |
---|---|
First meeting | October 31, 1924 Alabama State 30 , Alabama A&M 0 |
Latest meeting | October 29, 2016 Alabama State 41, Alabama A&M 42 |
Next meeting | October 28, 2017 |
Trophy | Magic City Classic Trophy |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 80 |
All-time series | Alabama A&M leads, 40–37–3 |
The Magic City Classic is an annual American football "classic" which features Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University, the two largest historically black universities in the state. It is played at Legion Field in Birmingham (nicknamed the "Magic City"). The classic has become the highest attended Division I Football Champion Subdivision (FCS) (formerly Division I-AA) game in the nation and carries a $24.3 million economic impact. The stadium attendance averages over 60,000 annually.l
The first game between the two schools was played in 1924. It has been an uninterrupted, annual tradition since 1945 and has been played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama since 1946.
The classic is noted for being the largest HBCU and predominately African-American event in the nation attracting nearly 200,000 participants. The Alabama A&M Bulldogs lead the series with a record of 40-37-3 all-time (as of 2016).
Many festivities are held in conjunction with the game which includes a pep rally, comedy show, scholarship breakfast, concert/festival, soirees, tailgating, block parties, alumni gatherings, 2-hour parade, and a popular "Battle of the Bands" between ASU's Mighty Marching Hornets and AAMU's Maroon and White Marching Band. Festivities begin the week of Saturday's game.
In recent years, the classic has attracted numerous African-American celebrities, public figures, and elected officials to Birmingham.
Alabama A&M victories are shaded ██ maroon. Alabama State victories shaded in ██ gold.