From our friends at Events DC...
Football Returns to Prime Time at RFK Stadium as Hampton Takes on Howard in the AT&T Nation's Football Classic
ESPNU will broadcast this famed rivalry live on September 18 at 7:30 PM
RFK Stadium, once featured every Sunday throughout the NFL season, will return to hosting prime time football on Friday, September 18 for the AT&T Nation’s Football Classic. The annual football game pitting the 100-year storied rivals, Hampton University and Howard University, will be nationally televised live on ESPNU and streamed across the globe on ESPN platforms.
“Events DC is excited to bring the Hampton-Howard rivalry back to RFK Stadium as part of the AT&T Nation’s Football Classic,” said Erik A. Moses, senior vice president and managing director of Events DC, Sports & Entertainment Division. “When we developed the Classic in 2011, the plan was always to feature notable historically black colleges and universities on a grand scale in RFK Stadium and having ESPN as the broadcast network this year enhances the platform.”
The AT&T Nation’s Football Classic is more than just a game, it is a week-long celebration of the heritage, service, unity and tradition of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Events surrounding the game include TechNoir: The Innovators Classic, a Hampton-Howard student debate, alumni parties, participation in #HashtagLunchBag and an official partnership with the H Street Festival.
The Pepsi Fan Festival, free to the public, is a mainstay that takes traditional tailgating festivities to new heights on the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds. This ultimate pre-game tailgate and HBCU reunion features games, music, food trucks, sponsor booths and activities for all ages starting at 4:00 PM. Previous performers have included an exciting array of national recording artists such as Adrian Marcel, Eric Bellinger, Jeremih, Raheem DeVaughn, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Sugar Bear and E.U., Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat and more.
The full schedule of events, ticket information and an interactive poll to determine who the #RealHU is can be found by visiting the newly-redesigned AT&T Nation’s Football Classic website - www.NationsFootballClassic.com.
Sponsor stalwarts AT&T, Pepsi and Marriott, involved since the Classic’s inception five years ago, continue to demonstrate their strong support for the event. Out-of-town alumni and fans have additional incentive to stay in DC for the full weekend as Marriott will offer special rates at the Marriott Metro Center host hotel and the Courtyard U.S. Capitol. For more details about each property and reservations, please visit www.NationsFootballClassic.com.
The Hampton-Howard rivalry dates back to their first meeting in 1908, and has affectionately been termed the “Battle for the Real HU” by each school’s loyal supporters. Both institutions pride themselves on their academic excellence and athletic traditions. This match-up, which had a home in RFK Stadium throughout the ’90s, has been a series of runs, with the Bison dominating play during the ’70s 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 last season. Hampton leads the overall series 47-43.
Tickets for the 2015 AT&T Nation’s Football Classic are currently on sale through ticketmaster.com. Regular priced tickets start at $25 (plus fees) with group discount rates and suite level experiences available as well. For additional information, please visit www.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, DC. 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. Seats are priced starting at $25.
