Black Chamber, Redskins sign football classic deal

Game at FedEx field could draw millions of dollars.It has national appeal, local flavor, and some say it could turn out to be one of the biggest events in Prince George's County. Members of The Washington Redskins organization and the prince George's County's Black Chamber of Commerce met at FedEx field on Christmas Eve and signed a contract to host two historically black universities for a football game at the Landover stadium.

" It was a great Christmas present, " chamber President Hubert "Petey" Green told the Gazette this week. "We are very excited about it. The Redskins were very responsive to us."

The classic is slated for the weekend of September 18. The deal matches Redskin's owner Daniel Snyder's vision of putting the stadium to good use, said the Redskins spokesman Karl Swanson.

" It was a perfect fit and it made perfect sense," Swanson said. "We don't use the stadium that often. College usage or saturday usage fits very well for us."

FedEx Field seats more than 86,000 spectators.

Niether Green nor Swanson would disclose the financial details of the deal. Now that FedEx Field is the fixed venue and the fall date has been set, the chamber can finalize the football team participants and enter into agreements with corporate sponsors. The chamber sent invitations to Howard University in the District and Grambling State University in New Orleans.

Grambling State Athletic Director Albert Dennis said that no decision has been made about participating in the classic and the Howard University oficials could not be reached for comment.

Chamber officials said that many football teams have expressed interest in participating in the classic since The Gazette first reported in November the organization's attempts to bring a bowl-like college game to the county, Negotiations were impeded by the lack of a secured venue and date. But the chamber said that securing two football teams now should be easy.
The event, currently called the "Prince George's Classic," will be a three-day affair starting on September 15 and culminating in the football game on September 18. Various cultural events, including fraternity and sorority step shows and battle-of-the-band competitions will precede the football game.

Green declined this week to disclose potential sponsors or investors in the project. The chamber plans to reveal more details at a press conference scheduled for Tuesday at the National Press Club in the District. Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R) is scheduled to appear at the press conference. A study commissioned by the chamber estimated the event could bring more than $15 million in revenue to the county and region, primarily from retail and tourism dollars.

The stadium signing comes not long after regional and municipal coalitions failed in their bid to bring the national Football League's Superbowl to FedEx Field. Green said he thought the event might encourage organizers of large events to consider the area more seriously in the future.

Classics are typically week-end long events anchored by a football game between two historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), said Robert Vowels Jr., commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Vowels said classics are lucrative ventures largely because of tourism. "People spend money on hotels and restaurants, and it generates millions and millions of dollars," he said.

One example is the Bayou Classic in New Orleans. That events features Grambling State and Southern University, and is televised annually. It sponsors include State Farm, Ebony Magazine and Coca-Cola. According to the Bayou Classic Web site, the event pumps approximately $30 million a year into the New Orleans economy.

Little said regardless of whom plays in the Prince George's Classic game he expects the event to be a moneymaker. Little said the chamber has also had support from County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D). 'He sent us a letter of support in April," Little said. In early December, Johnson said he called Redskins officials to express support for the idea.

The deal comes after more than a month of negotiations with the Redskins and a year of planning and research.

In addition to Little and Green, the team that worked for months to get the venue and date secured includes Little's brother Rex, and Dawn Flythe, director of economic development for B&W solutions. They all worked on the deal in a volunteer capacity for the chamber.
Joshua Smith, former head of Maxima Corp. of Lanham, originally came up with the idea of the HBCU classic. Smith, who Little considers a mentor, is a consultant on the project.