Florida Classic Celebrates 40 YEARS With Florida Blue as New Top Sponsor
Thursday, November 21, 2019
FAMU President Larry Robinson and Florida Blue’s top Orlando area executive Tony Jenkins join Lynn Thompson, VP of Intercollegiate Athletics at Bethune Cookman University in celebrating the milestone.
By Rhetta Peoples
As Orlando prepares for the Florida Classic, now called the Florida Blue Florida Classic, fans are excited about celebrating the 40th anniversary of the naming of the historic weekend. Two historically black universities, the Florida A&M Rattlers and the Bethune Cookman Wildcats will take on each other in the decades old football game this Saturday November 23rd at 3:30 pm. The game will be held at Camping World Stadium.
Tony Jenkins, Orlando’s top area executive for Florida Blue is an integral part of why the Florida Classic is still around. Jenkins said, “After Disney was no longer sponsoring the Florida Classic, we were excited to put our name in the hat as title sponsor.” That sponsorship is incredibly important to everything that happens over the course of the event-filled weekend.
“The Florida Blue Florida Classic is an incredibly important event for the Central Florida community, and we’re thrilled to be able to extend these sponsoring partnerships,” stated Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan.
Florida Blue has also changed the lives of underprivileged students by providing scholarships to some who otherwise may not have been able to attend college. Jenkins said, “We are proud to provide scholarships to both Florida A&M and Bethune Cookman.”
Over the years, The Florida Classic struggled to be welcomed in another city. However, Orlando welcomed the event with open arms, Jenkins added. Since the relocation of the game from Tampa to Orlando the attendance has increased 47.2 percent generating approximately $28 million in economic impact on the Central Florida economy.
Lynn W. Thompson, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics at Bethune Cookman University, agrees with Jenkins. “Orlando knows how to handle visitors and that’s one of the reasons we enjoy having the game in Orlando.”
According to Thompson, the Florida Blue Florida Classic is more than just a game. For alumni of both schools, the event is a way to reunite with former college friends and even family. Thompson calls it a big family reunion. The Florida Classic weekend flows into the streets of Orlando, with visitors, vendors and local residents.
Of course, while halftime is a treat for spectators, the famous Battle of the Bands, which will be held on Friday night at Amway Center at 7 pm, will give fans special performances from both high school and college bands.
Both Jenkins and Thompson emphasized all of the ancillary events but they also want to shine light on one specific event before the game. Jenkins said, “There is a career fair at the Amway Center from 10 am to 2 pm on the Friday before the game and there are various companies on site looking to fill positions. We want to invite everyone who may be looking for employment to come out.”
The impact on the economy is measurable and so is the love and support from the fans. “The Florida Blue Florida Classic has a tremendous impact on the fans because it’s a brand fans are familiar with and love and you’ll see that in the ticket sales this year. We’re expecting a much bigger crowd than in years past,” Thompson said
Big businesses are not the only ones to benefit from the game. The weekend also provides an opportunity for small businesses to sell and showcase their products and/or services. Those could include anything that stems anywhere from art to seafood.
“The Florida Blue Florida Classic truly is an annual family reunion — a place where football, music and culture collide for one unforgettable weekend each fall,” stated Larry Robinson, president, Florida A&M University. “Florida Blue’s focus on families makes them the perfect title sponsor for this extraordinary series of events, and it’s an honor to continue to work alongside such an enthusiastic and impactful partner.”
Florida Blue invites all attendees to visit their booth during the Fanfare which will be held in the field outside of the stadium before the game at 11:30 am. The fanfare is free and open to the public. Tickets for the football game start at $22 and there are parking shuttles running all day long to make parking easier. Fans may also pre-purchase their parking pass or buy game tickets at www.FloridaClassic.org.
Categories: History, Art & Culture Organizations, Sports Events, Holiday Events