The mayor’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, totaling approximately $417 million, would eliminate $500,000 in annual city funding for the Port City Classic and Bridge Builder Classic.
It also boosts support for the Gulf Coast Challenge by $100,000.
The budget would take effect Oct. 1 if approved by the Mobile City Council sometime next month.
Cheriogotis announced the changes during a budget discussion with reporters on Monday, saying the deepest cut, the elimination of a $400,000 appropriation for the four-year-old Port City Classic, is largely based on the event’s economic performance.
He said the game’s attendance, hotel room nights and sales tax generation did not justify the city’s investment.
“It was low attendance,” Cheriogotis said, adding that the event lacked enough hotel room nights and sales tax revenues “to justify that level of contribution.”
Kevin Ball, CEO of the Port City Classic, disagrees and said he is disappointed by the proposed funding cut.
“We firmly believe that the Port City Classic provides significant value to the City of Mobile and its economic and community impact is comparable to, and in some cases may exceed that of other sporting and entertainment events hosted in our city,” Ball said.
Councilman’s backlash
Cheriogotis said he discussed the proposed reduction with members of the Mobile City Council, which must approve a final spending plan before the end of September
“In my discussions with the City Council, I heard them when they announced a desire to see that trimmed,” Cheriogotis said.
But at least one council member is pushing back.
City Councilman Cory Penn said the city should establish objective performance metrics before eliminating support for events such as the Port City Classic.
It’s unclear what exactly is the economic impact of each of the three HBCU events.
Penn said he intends to seek partial restoration of the funding when the council begins budget deliberations.
Any council changes to the mayor’s spending plan require a five-vote supermajority.
“We need to get five votes to move money when we receive the budget,” Penn said.
“Hopefully we can get that done and from there, we can start implementing a performance evaluation metric (ahead of the fiscal year 2028 budget next year).”
Cut two, boost one
The proposed budget also eliminates the city’s $100,000 appropriation for the Bridge Builder Classic, an HBCU basketball game held during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend each January.
At the same time, the Gulf Coast Challenge would receive an additional $100,000, increasing the city’s support from $500,000 to $600,000.
This year’s game is scheduled for Oct. 3 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
“We think it’s a very fun, big event for our city and brings in a lot of people,” Cheriogotis said.
“It brings in a lot of sales tax and room nights and we were not seeing that impact with the Port City Classic.”
All three HBCU-centered sporting events are managed by Brothers Working Together.
The Gulf Coast Challenge debuted in 2018, the Bridge Builder Classic in 2022 and the Port City Classic in 2023.
The Gulf Coast Challenge has generated some of the largest crowds among the events.
Its 2022 matchup featuring Deion Sanders’ undefeated Jackson State team drew 32,900 spectators to Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Attendance for the game often exceeds 13,000.
By comparison, the inaugural Port City Classic drew 8,600 spectators.
Beyond the game
In a statement to AL.com, Ball defended the Port City Classic.
He said he hopes to meet with the mayor and his administration to discuss the event’s impact while addressing “any misinformation or misunderstanding surrounding the event, and provide a clearer picture of the benefits it brings to Mobile.”
“The value of the Port City Classic extends far beyond game day,” Ball said.
“Through our events and programming, we provide students and young people with exposure to higher education and opportunities to connect with HBCUs that can help shape their academic and professional futures.”
Penn also argued that the event should be evaluated as a multi-day educational and cultural experience rather than solely on football attendance.
“It’s almost like a concert and a game at the same time,” Penn said. “There is a cheerleader clinic and an HBCU summit, which gives a lot of our young people an opportunity (to learn about) the universities and colleges and apply for them.”
This year’s HBCU Summit is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. The event is open to high school juniors and seniors and is designed to immerse students in HBCU culture.
“We introduce students to institutions of higher learning, create opportunities for educational engagement, and help connect the next generation of Mobile’s workforce with colleges and universities that can prepare them to return and make a positive impact in their own communities,” Ball said.
He called the Port City Classic an “investment in education, workforce development, tourism, economic growth and the future of our young people.”
Penn said bringing HBCU campuses to Mobile is particularly important for families who may not have the resources to travel for college visits.
This year’s Port City Classic will feature Tuskegee University against Fort Valley State University of Georgia.
“The impact is different,” Penn said about the Port City Classic. “For some, it’s just a game. But this is more than a game. It is so many different things that create impact. It’s about providing quality of life for residents to experience something they wouldn’t be able to experience somewhere else.”
Ball said organizers remain committed to working with elected officials, schools, businesses and community partners to grow the event.
“We are hopeful that, after having an opportunity to share the facts and the full scope of the event, the mayor and his administration will recognize the value of continuing to support an event that brings so much to the City of Mobile,” Ball said.
