Columbus, Phenix City to lose estimated $2 million due to canceled HBCU classics
The Columbus and Phenix City area will likely lose millions of dollars in financial impact due to the canceled HBCU classic football games.
The Whitewater Classic, played at Phenix City’s Garrett-Harrison Stadium, and the Fountain City and Tuskegee-Morehouse Classics, played at Columbus’ Memorial Stadium, have all been canceled due to COVID-19.
No Classics means no fans staying in local hotels, eating at local restaurants or purchasing keepsakes from a trip to the Chattahoochee Valley.
“If we can bring several thousand visitors from out of town to come to Phenix City, and they enjoy their visit, they’re likely to come back,” City of Phenix City Assistant City Manager and Utilities Director Steve Smith said. “That helps our hotels, our restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores.”
Millions of dollars lost
The Whitewater Classic typically brings in around $500,000 in direct economic benefit, from hotel stays to individuals stopping at gas stations to fill up their vehicles, according to Smith.
There are always outlier years, according to Smith, such as last season’s rain-soaked game that saw smaller attendance.
The Classic costs the city around $150,000 annually to host, Smith said.
Every penny counts when it comes to out-of-town visitors, even with something as small as a t-shirt.
“Well, that’s a t-shirt that we sold that wouldn’t have sold otherwise,” Smith said.
For Columbus’ two Classics, the estimated financial impact is even larger.
The Columbus Sports Council, in partnership with Visit Columbus, estimates that the Fountain City Classic’s economic impact is “a little over $1 million,” according to CSC Executive Director Merri Sherman.
“It makes great business sense to bring this gathering and game to Columbus; there are a lot of alumni located in and around Columbus and they are loyal football fans,” Fountain City Classic Chairman Calvin Smyre said in a press release. “It’s a win-win situation for the city of Columbus and both universities. Hotels and restaurants are full and people are having a great weekend.”
The estimated economic impact for the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic is around $680,000, Sherman said.
Longstanding local history
2020’s canceled Fountain City Classic marks the first time in 30 years that Albany State and Fort Valley state will not face each other. The SIAC, of which both institutions are members, canceled fall sports on July 9.
Tuskegee and Albany State began playing in Phenix City in 2014. That year’s Whitewater Classic served as the first collegiate game played in the town in 25 years. The NCAA Division III national championship game was played there between 1973 and 1989.
Tuskegee-Morehouse is considering leaving Columbus due to declining attendance and “better financial distribution,” sources familiar with the decision told the Ledger-Enquirer in February. The game is looking to move to Birmingham, though that decision has not yet been made.
The vote to move the game was delayed on May 13, according to a Montgomery TV station.
