The future of two signature HBCU sporting events in Mobile is becoming part of a larger debate over how the city spends taxpayer dollars.
Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis said the organization behind the Port City Classic and Bridge Builder Classic requested $500,000 in city funding. However, Cheriogotis said he would rather direct those dollars toward the Gulf Coast Challenge, which he said generates more tax revenue for the city.
“I want to make sure we are putting tax dollars to good use,” Cheriogotis said. “There are a lot of good ideas that don’t always return on the value that you think they might. I’m not saying that happens here.”
Attendance figures are also part of the discussion.
The Port City Classic drew approximately 8,600 people in 2023. By 2025, attendance had dropped to about 6,100.
Meanwhile, the Gulf Coast Challenge drew more than 14,000 people in 2025.
Cheriogotis said the city is evaluating how its funding can provide the greatest return for taxpayers.
The Port City Classic’s CEO, Kevin Ball, said the event provides value to Mobile beyond attendance numbers.
In a statement, Ball said the Port City Classic has become one of the Gulf Coast’s fastest-growing HBCU football traditions and brings students, alumni, families, fans, visitors and businesses to Mobile.
The organization said the 2023 event generated an estimated $3 million in economic impact for the city and supported activity in the hospitality, tourism, restaurant, retail, transportation and small-business sectors.
Ball said organizers were disappointed to learn that funding or support for next year’s Port City Classic was not included by the mayor’s office.
The organization said it believes the event’s economic and community impact is comparable to, and in some cases may exceed, that of other sporting and entertainment events hosted in Mobile.
Ball said organizers want an opportunity to meet with Cheriogotis and his administration to discuss the event’s impact and address what he described as misinformation or misunderstandings surrounding the classic.
The organization also pointed to its educational and workforce-development efforts, saying the event connects students with HBCUs and provides opportunities for young people to learn about higher education and potential career paths.
“We believe the Port City Classic is an investment in education, workforce development, tourism, economic growth, and the future of our young people,” Ball said in the statement.
Organizers said they remain committed to working with city leaders, businesses, schools and residents to keep the event growing.
The debate now centers on whether city funding for the classics will continue and how potential changes could affect the future of the events in Mobile.
