Friday, May 1, 2015

Events DC Kicks-Off 5th Annual AT&T Nations's Football Classic

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The AT&T Nation's Football Classic®, an annual football game featuring historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), will take place at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., featuring two storied programs -- Hampton and Howard -- on Friday, Sept. 18th at 7 p.m.

"As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the AT&T Nation's Football Classic, we wanted to refresh the event and bring back a classic rivalry, as we did in 2011 with Morehouse and Howard," said Erik Moses, senior vice president and managing director of Events DC, Sports and Entertainment Division, "The battles between Hampton and Howard in RFK Stadium during the early 90's were instant classics.  Giving this type of rivalry a rebirth is what we had in mind when conceptualizing this event."

The AT&T Nation's Football Classic® was created to celebrate the passion and tradition of the college football experience, recognizing the history of service to others by the students, faculty and alumni of historically black colleges and universities, highlighting the unity of African-American culture, while honoring the heritage and excellence of these proud institutions.

"The Classic has become a signature event for our nation's capital and is the only one of its kind within the city limits," said Greg O'Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC. "It's more than just a game, it's an overall experience that attracts fans from around the country who continue to come back in part because of the great hospitality they receive from our hotel and restaurant partners."

The Hampton and Howard rivalry, which dates back to their first meeting in 1908, has affectionately been termed the "Battle for the Real HU" by both schools' loyal supporters. These institutions pride themselves on their academic excellence and athletic traditions. This match-up, which had a home in RFK Stadium in the 1990s, has been a series of runs, with the Bison dominating play throughout the 1970s and the Pirates posting 14 straight wins from 1997 through 2010.

The last two contests were nail-bitters, with Howard winning on the road in double-overtime in 2013 and narrowly escaping with a 30-29 victory this past season. Howard is currently riding a four-game winning streak; however, Hampton leads the overall series 47-43.

Tickets for the 2015 AT&T Nation's Football Classic are now available, with a special $15 lower-level seat offer in effect through ticketmaster.com, throughout the end of May. Regular priced tickets will start at $25 with group discount rates and suite level experiences available as well.  For additional information, please visit NationsFootballClassic.com.
 
About the AT&T Nation's Football Classic 
The AT&T Nation's Football Classic® is a black college football game held annually at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Now in its fifth year, the game features Howard University against Hampton University. Organized by Events DC, the AT&T Nation's Football Classic® was created to celebrate the passion and tradition of the college football experience, recognize the history of service to others by the students, faculty and alumni of historically black colleges and universities, highlight the unity of African American culture, and honor the heritage and excellence of these proud institutions. Tickets for the AT&T Nation's Football Classic® are on sale now at ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, the Howard University Box Office at Cramton Auditorium and the Hampton University Box Office (at 757-728-6828). Seats are priced starting at $25.
 
ATTNFC website: www.NationsFootballClassic.com
ATTNFC Twitter: @NationsClassic
ATTNFC Facebook: www.facebook.com/NationsFootballClassic
Howard University website: www.howard.edu 
Hampton University website: www.hamptonu.edu
Howard University Athletics: hubison.com

Hampton University Athletics: www.hamptonpirates.com 

About Events DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital.  Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, and the non-military functions of the DC Armory.  Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.


COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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