Classic in Reliant

Houston has been officially named as the site of the 32nd State Farm Bayou Classic, beating out two coastal cities and two in-state alternate sites.
According to Ralph Slaughter, Bayou Classic coordinator, Houston was chosen particularly because of the lodging that was already secured in preparation for the event and because of Reliant Stadium’s dome-styled stadium, a venue both Grambling State and Southern coaches preferred.
“The Gulf Coast Region has seen much adversity over the past month,” said Houston’s Mayor Bill White in a statement released Tuesday by SMG. “Houston has led the recovery efforts and has welcomed tens of thousands New Orleans citizens into the city. We look forward to hosting the Bayou Classic as well as welcoming attendees to the City of Houston.”
Because of internal and structural damage done to the Louisiana Superdome during and after Hurricane Katrina, officials from both schools had to find an alternate site.
In past weeks, Houston had been rumored and reported in the media as the next site for the event. However, it had not been officially named as such until Sept. 29. In a last-minute effort to have Los Angeles as the host city, Ron Johnson, director of ERICAM Sports and Entertainment, provided a proposal that was hard to resist, Slaughter said.
“There was no backing from the city,” Slaughter said. “If he had something from the city of Los Angeles, things might have been different.”
According to a proposal submitted by Johnson, a payout by his company could have been as much as $4,000,000.
Johnson said he thought Houston should have been disregarded because of the number of evacuees who still are in shelters at Reliant Park.
“I’m really disappointed (about Los Angeles not being chosen),” Johnson said. “To me, it’s more like a slap in the face of the evacuees there. Over 20,000 people came to Houston to flee the storm and you don’t flaunt what you have when others don’t.”
Jacksonville, Fla., was the east coast option, but could not provide what Houston could, Slaughter said.
Baton Rouge and Shreveport were the in-state sites considered. According to a press release, both cities were contacted but neither could guarantee the 9,000 hotel rooms and at least 60,000 stadium seats for the football game.
Reliant Stadium, home to the Houston Texans, seats 72,000 seats.
“Reliant Park opened its doors to provide shelter to our neighbors in Louisiana and we are honored to have been chosen to host this legendary game,” said Shea Guinn, president & general manager of SMG-Reliant Park in a statement released by SMG. “We welcome fans from allover the nation to come and enjoy this collegiate rivalry in Reliant Stadium.”
Slaughter said all of the events affiliated with the Thanksgiving weekend game would still be held, including the McDonald’s Battle of the Bands and Greek Step Show presented by Alltel, the Coaches’ Luncheon and the Super Job Fair. The job fair, the release said, will have additional companies looking for prospects to help build New Orleans.
Despite his inability to lock in the 2005 Bayou Classic, Johnson said if the opportunity arises in 2006, he would be ready.
“I will definitely make an offer that won’t be refused,” he said. “We’ve got enough people here to do the same things you do there (in New Orleans). There are a lot of people who come from California and the West Coast. Los Angeles was equipped to offer the same thing if not more.
“You have to realize that about 70 percent of the number of people that come in from around the country to attend the Bayou Classic are not alumni,” he said. “A lot of people come in for the event – the experience. But I wish the city of Houston the best. I just couldn’t see it going there.”