This week, Alabama A&M failed to meet a Tuesday deadline for signing an agreement with the Alabama Sports Council (ASC), the nonprofit entity that oversees production of the Magic City Classic that would have allowed A&M and Alabama State to each receive $1.2 million annually for participating the Magic City Classic through 2026.
Subsequently, Alabama State signed an exclusive new agreement with ASC that will provide the institution with $1.5 million for the 2023 and 2025 Classics.
In those years, Alabama State is the home team for the annual SWAC conference played in Birmingham at Legion Field.
A copy of the agreement was obtained by AL.com.
Related: Alabama A&M’s demands may have ‘dire consequences; for the 2023 Magic City Classic
ASU and A&M, per a four-year agreement with the City of Birmingham, will each receive $500,000 from the city annually through 2026. A&M signed that agreement on Tuesday after asking for a provision to be dropped from the contract that had been signed by city officials and Alabama State.
Related: Alabama A&M signs Magic City Classic agreement with city; other contract still unsigned
The agreement A&M signed was unchanged.
According to its new agreement, ASU, in addition to what it gets from the city, will receive $1 million in 2023 and 2025 from ASC, which generates revenue for the Classic, primarily through sponsorships and ticket sales. ($970,000, plus $30,000 for travel expenses)
In those years, Alabama A&M will take home only the funds it receives from the city.
The games played in 2024 and 26 are A&M home games. In those years, each team will receive only the $500,000 designated by the city.
“Although this should be a momentous occasion for both Alabama State University and Alabama A&M to receive the highest payout in the history of the MCC, and undoubtedly the largest HBCU classic football, we found ourselves at this impasse,” Alabama State President Quinton Ross told AL.com. “I have to make a decision that’s in the best fiscal interest of my institution.”
Gene Hallman, CEO of Eventive (formerly Bruno Event Team), which produces the Classic on behalf of ASC had no comment on the new agreement.
It’s the last salvo in what has been a curious week of play-calling, primarily by Alabama A&M officials.
In a letter to Hallman dated April 18, A&M General Counsel Rochelle A. Conley wrote: “At this time, and based upon our current level of understanding, we would feel comfortable moving forward with a two (2) year rather than four (4) year term.”
In an email the following day responding to Conley, Eventive VP Amateur Sports Perren King wrote: “…the result of our review (or the letter) was to continue forward with the long-standing negotiated contract terms of 4 years, which was signed by Alabama State.”
The following day, Conley, in an email wrote: “I believe a face-to-face meeting may bring clarity to the University’s position and may also assist us in reaching an equitable solution.” Conley scheduled the meeting for Tuesday, April 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the A&M athletic director’s office.”
Within hours, King responded: “In the highest form of transparency, time is what has my team the most concerned as we sit here without the ability to act on behalf of the event. To be very candid, getting started on an event of this magnitude being this far behind could have dire consequences for the 2023 Magic City Classic.
“[W]e have missed the crucial period to cultivate new sponsors and risk jeopardizing existing revenue partnerships from supporting the event. In response to the request for the 27th, the five months of communications and negotiations, have ASC at a place where we have to be contractually authorized by next Tuesday 25th, to move forward with the MCC … under our signed 4-year agreement.”
Ross added: “I want to thank the mayor and City of Birmingham for their commitment to both of these institutions and the commitment to increasing the funding. We met on October 30th, 2022. Both presidents and the mayor agreed to a four-year deal to play in Legion Field. We wanted to negotiate an increase and the mayor came through with his end. We left there knowing that we will play for four years in the Magic City Classic in Birmingham. I also want to thank the Alabama Sports Council for negotiating with us.
RELATED: Alabama A&M, Alabama State reach consensus on Magic City Classic future
“At the end of the day, each [president] has to do what’s in the best interest of the institution, which ultimately becomes business.”
The 82nd Magic City Classic is slated to be played on Saturday, October 29, 2023.