What is the wait Move the Bayou Classic!

Since the November 16 issue of The DIGEST came out last semester and I was the first to announce the fact that the State Farm Bayou Classic may possibly move, a frenzy started about where the Bayou Classic should be moved. Houston put in its bid and Orlando also offered bids. I’ve noticed television, radio and newspaper has added their two cents into the mix. Now it’s time for me to give y’all my opinion on the situation.
It’s true that New Orleans has hosted the Classic for 26 out of the last 28 years, but as the old saying goes: “all good things must come to an end.”
I must admit that as a native of Louisiana I feel that it is only right that the Classic should stay in New Orleans, but what it all boils down to is that maybe a move will be good for the Classic.
The proposed deadline for all cities interested in hosting the Bayou Classic was allegedly November 30 but that deadline has come and passed. And guess what? No offer was made by New Orleans. So what does the Bayou Classic Committee do? Extend the deadline.
The Bayou Classic Weekend brings in an estimated $50 million to the city of New Orleans. Between the two schools—Southern and Grambling—they receive only $700,000 a piece.
Now enter Houston, who is offering use of the brand new 69,000- seat Reliant Stadium for the cost of $35,000, whereas New Orleans charges $100,000 for the use of the Superdome. Add that figure to the $200,000 that needs to be paid for suite rental and over $150,000 for security, ushers and related costs.
The city of New Orleans designates the State Farm Bayou Classic as a “Special Event” in the category with the Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras. This is a little strange to me because the Bayou Classic is simply a regular season game between two Division I-AA schools. The Sugar Bowl is a major Division I school and is a part of the Bowl Championship Series, a game that pits two major universities against one another.
During Bayou Classic Weekend, a hotel will charge anywhere between $150-$300 for a stay, whereas Houston has promised that hotel rates will not exceed $125 for that weekend. Do the math- that is over $100 less than most New Orleans hotels.
The major reason given for keeping the game in New Orleans is that it will lose the face value of two Louisiana schools playing in their home state or that fans of SU and GSU would not show up. But lets take a deeper look at it, the Jaguar Nation will follow the Jaguars wherever the team is scheduled to play. I’m real sure the Gramblinites will come also. To further support, this fact,in the Circle City Classic in 1999, we played Hampton University in Indianapolis. The crowd for that game was over 50,000 strong, and most were the Jaguar Nation. So you mean to tell me that if Southern plays Grambling in Houston no one would attend the game? PLEASE. Besides, there are two HBCU’s located closely to that area (Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M Universtiy). I’m sure attendance from those schools will be plentiful.
Basically what I am trying to say is that if New Orleans is really trying to keep the Bayou Classic in this state, then it should have beaten Houston’s offer a long time ago. So let’s move it! Maybe it would be appreciated more once they realize how much the Bayou Classic means to the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.