Las Vegas Classic Boycott


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BlackCrat

New Member
I found this on hbcunetwork.com. Las Vegas....Boycott....A&T...Suthun....dayum white folks.....discuss.....

BLACK COMMUNITY URGED TO BOYCOTT
COPYCAT LAS VEGAS BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL CLASSIC
STOLEN FROM BLACK BUSINESSMEN

The Silver Dollar Classic, the Black College Football Classic that was successfully launched in Las Vegas on September 21, 2002, was robbed of the opportunity to do business in Las Vegas in 2003.

Pat Christenson, President of Las Vegas Events, a special division of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, has taken the Silver Dollar Classic concept and renamed a copycat event to be held in September 2003 at the Sam Boyd Stadium. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the name of the black football classic has been changed to the "Las Vegas Classic." This gives the impression that the Silver Dollar Classic event has been renamed. It could be viewed as a ploy to manipulate those who attended the Silver Dollar Classic last year, into returning to attend the same event.

The Silver Dollar Classic was created in 2000 out of the vision and commitment of seven Los Angeles African-American Businessmen, led by Publisher Calvin Lovick. Most of these businessmen are graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's).

This annual event was created to assist in the development of young African-Americans and to expose them to the historical black college and university experience, which is primarily in the Southeast. These businessmen hosted the first annual black college football classic west of the Rockies.

In 2002 the Inaugural Silver Dollar Classic was held at the Sam Boyd Stadium, under the leadership of Daren Libonati, Director of Thomas and Mack/Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The official stadium count was 25, 000 at the football game and another 13,000 at the "Battle of the Bands" event held at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Approximately 30,000 African Americans traveled to Las Vegas for the exciting weekend event, which generated substantial revenue for the City of Las Vegas. The attendance exceeded the expectations of the Las Vegas representatives, who until that time, were unfamiliar with the traditions of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, prestigious alumni, friends, families and fans. "It is our belief that prior to the Silver Dollar Classic, Pat Christenson, Daren Libonati, or the Event Management Leader were totally unfamiliar with the long-standing tradition and loyalty which centers around black college football competition or the unique "Battle of the Bands," Calvin Lovick stated.

"Following the Silver Dollar Classic, the City of Las Vegas realized the potential revenue that could be generated by hosting a Black college football game in their city," according to Earl Harris, Vice President of Operations for Silver Dollar Classic. Silver Dollar Classic officials were informed that the initial financial requirements for hosting their 2003 event at the Sam Boyd Stadium would be ten times the amount they paid in 2002 plus a $2,000,000 line of credit and a letter of reference. These requirements were not in effect in 2002, when there was no "track record." The new conditional requirements for the 2003 Silver Dollar Classic were implemented in spite of the Silver Dollar Classic success in 2002.

There are no African-Americans involved in the planning of the copycat event, the "Las Vegas Classic," scheduled for September 2003 at Sam Boyd Stadium. In fact, the event was planned without the knowledge or participation of the original African-American creators of the Classic.

Historically Black College and University football is an arena that African-Americans have always treated with the utmost loyalty, pride, respect and love. The Silver Dollar Classic is therefore asking those considering attending the copycat, "bogus" Las Vegas Black College Football game scheduled for September 2003 to boycott this event.
 

Originally posted by BlackCrat
This annual event was created to assist in the development of young African-Americans and to expose them to the historical black college and university experience, which is primarily in the Southeast. These businessmen hosted the first annual black college football classic west of the Rockies.

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This part is not true. There was a Classic in San Diego for 3 years, There was a classic in Oregon for 2 years. This article is pretty old.
 
Originally posted by MACHIAVELLI
This part is not true. There was a Classic in San Diego for 3 years, There was a classic in Oregon for 2 years. This article is pretty old.
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I know the issue of boycotting been around for a while, but i just saw it re-surface on the hbcunetwork website, and wanted to know what my peers thought about it.

It's a deep situation...... White folks always trying to take control of something.
 
A mind is a terrible thing to waste!!!

That's why an education at a HBCU institution of higher learning is all the more important for us.
 
Originally posted by BlackCrat
I know the issue of boycotting been around for a while, but i just saw it re-surface on the hbcunetwork website, and wanted to know what my peers thought about it.
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handle your business..post away!!!
 
I will be there, and I will be going to EVERYTHING. Battle-of-the-Bands, the game....if they have a fish fry on Sunday, I am going to that too.

Bottom line, who are you hurting by not going? You are hurting the HBCUs. You are hurting thousands of students that attend these universities, and hurting them on behalf of seven businessmen that didnt have their stuff together to win the bid to host the event this year? Did they even put in a bid to host the event?

Before you cancel you plans based on this biased, "sour grapes" article, find out the whole story. These guys are mad that another group came with a more professional package.

My first loyalty goes to A&T. Not seven businessmen. If A&T decided not to participate, then fine. But if A&T is going to be there, and they can benefit from my support, then dammit I am going to support.

*can you tell I'm salty at these greedy shiftless negroes trying to kill an event that my alma mater is involved in?* :redhot:
 
Originally posted by A&T Brandmasta
I will be there, and I will be going to EVERYTHING. Battle-of-the-Bands, the game....if they have a fish fry on Sunday, I am going to that too.

Bottom line, who are you hurting by not going? You are hurting the HBCUs. You are hurting thousands of students that attend these universities, and hurting them on behalf of seven businessmen that didnt have their stuff together to win the bid to host the event this year? Did they even put in a bid to host the event?

Before you cancel you plans based on this biased, "sour grapes" article, find out the whole story. These guys are mad that another group came with a more professional package.

My first loyalty goes to A&T. Not seven businessmen. If A&T decided not to participate, then fine. But if A&T is going to be there, and they can benefit from my support, then dammit I am going to support.

*can you tell I'm salty at these greedy shiftless negroes trying to kill an event that my alma mater is involved in?* :redhot:
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You made a good point about people finding the "whole story" before cancelling, but shouldn't that apply to you as well?? It doesn't sound like you have the whole story because you still have questions. I'm not feeling your post because you're automatically assumming those brothas didn't have their stuff together. I think this is something you WANT to believe. They pulled off the one last year, so why do you think they suddenly became "greedy shiftless negroes". They would be greedy if they doubled the ticket prices for no reason. Did you read the article???? Did you read the part about Vegas taxing on all of this extra money?? If not.....then here's an exert:

"Following the Silver Dollar Classic, the City of Las Vegas realized the potential revenue that could be generated by hosting a Black college football game in their city," according to Earl Harris, Vice President of Operations for Silver Dollar Classic. Silver Dollar Classic officials were informed that the initial financial requirements for hosting their 2003 event at the Sam Boyd Stadium would be ten times the amount they paid in 2002 plus a $2,000,000 line of credit and a letter of reference. These requirements were not in effect in 2002, when there was no "track record." The new conditional requirements for the 2003 Silver Dollar Classic were implemented in spite of the Silver Dollar Classic success in 2002.

I have yet to read a rebuttle from Vegas officials to these accusations.......

Sometimes i wonder if we (Black folks) have ANY principles to stand on. Our ancestors fought and risked being mutilated, tortured, and killed....yet, it's hard for us to sacrifice even the slightest things. I know some of you are thinking i'm saying this just because TSU is not playing, but if you knew me.....then you would know that even if TSU was playing, i would refuse to go.

I didn't go to homecoming my senior year at TSU because of some issues with our stadium, and i advocated a boycott of my own graduate ceremony at FAM because of J. Bush being invited as the speaker. Some of my family was upset because they wanted to be there, but like the old saying goes, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything". It's amazing and sad how much i was criticized by my people for making those moves. What are we willing to sacrifice.....if anything? Just a question.......

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I think this would make a very interesting debate. I mean if it was a real, intellectual, structured debate.......not some Ricky Lake/J. Springer type ish.
 
Originally posted by A&T Brandmasta

Bottom line, who are you hurting by not going? You are hurting the HBCUs. You are hurting thousands of students that attend these universities, and hurting them on behalf of seven businessmen that didnt have their stuff together to win the bid to host the event this year? Did they even put in a bid to host the event?

*can you tell I'm salty at these greedy shiftless negroes trying to kill an event that my alma mater is involved in?* :redhot:
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A&T Bandmasta:

You wrong man. Very wrong. You need to reread that article.

How would feel if someone saw you doing something, and once they saw that what you were did generated a lot of money, they snatch the idea from under you without you even knowing about it.

And then when you try to do this thing again, they increase the price of everything just to make you back off so they can make money??


How would you feel???
 
We discussed this at length on the MEACfans board some time ago. I will try to find that old thread and post a link to it here.

It is my understanding that this year there was a bidding process for the football game. The "shiftless negroes" didnt even submit a bid, assuming that they would host the game again this year.

By the way, did Grambling even receive all their money from the last year's game yet?

I know...support "black business", but in this case, the greater good is support the 9000+ sudents at A&T, who will directly benefit from the proceeds from this Classic, and not seven businessmen who couldnt get their stuff together.

Some knowledgeable posters from Grambling had some comments on last year's game and the way it was organized/handled. I will try and find that for you.

They can play the race card all they want, but this is not a black/white thing, it's a money thing. They are mad that they suffered for not having their stuff together, and are now trying to kill support for the game since their sticky fingers wont touch the proceeds. Also, someone posted that the assertion that only white people are running the game is a lie, but dont quote me on that until I find some concrete info.

Hold tight while I try to find some more info one this...I am on my way to Jackson, so if I cant find it in the next half hour, I will get to it when I get home tomorrow. Things arent always what they seem.
 
I'm not looking at it from a black/white stand point. I'm looking at it like this. If I start a business, and the group of people I had to go through to get it started charged me one price, I don't want to go back and get charged 10x as much just because my business did good, but unfortunately, that's how things are these days.
 
Las Vegas Classic no gamble for Aggies

9-10-03

By JEFF CARLTON, Staff Writer
News & Record


GREENSBORO -- George Small doesn't like to gamble, so N.C. A&T's football coach will be staying far away from the blackjack tables at the Stardust this weekend in Las Vegas.

"I like to keep my money," he said. "It's hard to come by."

A&T athletics director Charlie Davis isn't a gambler, either. And, from his point of view, Saturday night's Las Vegas Classic date with Southern University is a low-risk, high-reward affair.

"There are no expenses for me or the team to have to deal with," Davis said. "I come home and I get a check. And that check will add up to $150,000."

Last year's participants in what was then called the Silver Dollar Classic didn't have the same peace of mind. Organizers guaranteed the same payouts after expenses to Grambling State and Tennessee State. But Grambling AD Albert Dennis said Tuesday that his school is still owed $38,000 by the game's organizers. There reportedly were numerous other financial and logistical problems. :eek2:

The Las Vegas Classic, in its inaugural year at 32,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium, appears to be in better hands. Charlotte-based Urban Sports & Entertainment Group is the game's promoter and is managing most aspects of the event, along with a local company called New Creations Productions Group.

Tom Grabowski, president and CEO of Urban Sports, said the game has been marketed like a postseason bowl game.

"There's probably been more marketing than for the Las Vegas Bowl," he said. "We've been more aggressive on the national side."

It remains to be seen whether the game, which will be televised nationally by Major Broadcast Cable, can carve out a niche on the black college football landscape. For now, anyway, it almost stands alone in the Pacific time zone. Of the 45 historically black college "classics" on this fall's schedule, the Nov. 1 San Francisco Heritage Classic matching Hampton and Florida A&M is the only other neutral-field game being played west of the Rockies.

"It's a rich cultural experience for people here on the West Coast," Las Vegas Classic executive director Jonathan Simon said. "It's an opportunity for schools to recruit out west and an opportunity for students here locally to be able to experience something most haven't experienced before."

Las Vegas is a destination city that can accommodate a lot of football followers, and quite a few Celine Dion fans and gambling addicts to boot.

Sin City has more hotel rooms -- about 129,000 -- than any other town in the world. Davis hopes A&T fans can make it a destination city for years to come.

That's looking like a distinct possibility, at least for next year.

Simon announced in July that the school that brings the most alumni to the Las Vegas Classic would be invited back. The problem is Southern already has a schedule conflict with next year's mid-September date. With that in mind, there have been discussions about having A&T play Tennessee State.

The Las Vegas Classic has had to overcome some negative publicity from last year's promoters, Earl Harris and Calvin Lovick, who have tried to launch a boycott.

Their contention: This classic was their idea, it was a success last year and it was unfairly ripped from black hands by the stadium authority and Las Vegas Events, a group funded by the city's casino tax that supports major events in town. Requiring them to bid on the event, with an unrealistic deadline, and provide a $2 million letter of credit was not fair, they claimed.

"They found out we were a small group, we didn't have a whole lot of backing, and they figured that taking it from us would not cause them any repercussions," said Randolph Benn, a Lovick partner who was events coordinator of the 2002 game.

Stadium director Daren Libonati told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in April that there were various factors in the decision to not automatically rehire Harris and Lovick.

Urban Sports, which has owned the television rights to the CIAA basketball tournament for 10 years, handled the television and game management of the Silver Dollar Classic and still hasn't received full payment for its services, according to Grabowski. He says he wired $100,000 to cover Grambling's charter flight to Las Vegas when the promoters failed to do so. :eek2: He was later reimbursed.

Appeals were made to A&T and Southern fans by the former organizers to boycott Saturday's game, but officials at both schools expect strong turnouts. Last year, it drew 22,537. "They made it an emotionally charged issue," Grabowski said, "but facts are facts."

Davis says he investigated the matter before committing the Aggies to the game.

"The changes that were made were probably quite frankly for the overall benefit of the game," he said.
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Our school officials arent stupid. Keep in mind that WE started the lunch counter sit-in movement in the 60's, and we come from a long line of socially concious citizens. If our administration thought there was a big injustice and would be detrimental to us as a people to have this game, they would have pulled out. Since the game is being run well and the schools (read:students) will benefit, I will be there to support it. It's all well and good to raise your voice in protest, but just make sure you're supporting the right causes and the right people.
 
This was disappointing when I first heard it several months ago. The previous crew had a GREAT idea. They simply messed up and didn't get a contract for a longer period of time to secure a foot hold on it for at least 3 years.

Now, for anyone, to ask fans and alums to not support their school, makes no sense. It is selfish. I want make it, but it has absolutely nothing to do with a boycott. It has everything to do with the pricing to take 4 (me, wife and 2 kids). Airlines no longer have kids tickets, so that became too much for a non-Bayou Classic game for me. If we weren't all lovers of SU and I could go on my own, I would be doing my best to get there... :)

I pray no Southernite, Aggie or HBCU supporter wouldn't go due to this request to boycott. Why hurt the schools and the reputation of HBCU football in that area because a group didn't get the same great deal they got originially? Be smart everyone...

PEACE!!1
 

This years game had about 20k, 2k less than the 2002 Silver Dollar Classic. I'm sure they were expecting more.
 
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