Magic City Classic to stay in Birmingham through 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Magic City Classic is remaining in Birmingham and at Legion Field for the time being.

Mayor Randall Woodfin, Alabama A&M University President Dr. Andrew Hugine, Alabama State University President Dr. Quentin Ross and Harold Mitchell, chairman of Birmingham Parks and Recreation, signed a four-year agreement to keep the Magic City Classic in Birmingham through 2022.

The new contract calls for an increase in direct payments to both A&M and Alabama State, as under the current contract, both schools receive $212,500 directly from the city of Birmingham. That amount will rise in each year of the contract, hitting $400,000 by 2022.

The contract will also require the game will be played at Legion Field for all four years, which is notable since the new downtown stadium at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex is expected to open in 2021.

The Birmingham City Council approved the contracts at an earlier council meeting.

Below is the amount each school will receive each year.

2018: $212,500 (final year of current contract)
2019: $325,000
2020 $350,000
2021: $375,000
2022: $400,000

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NOTE: The new Birmingham open-air stadium (BJCC) will seat 45,000 and up to 55,000 for special events.  The 2018 Magic City Classic attendance was 65,906 in 2018 and 61,221 in 2017.