NEW ORLEANS — Just look around downtown New Orleans and you know the city is gearing up for a cat fight.
“It’s bragging rights,” said Southern University fan Isaac Larry.
Those bragging rights are something both Southern and Grambling fans hope they will end the weekend with, as the Bayou Classic takes the spotlight in New Orleans for its 50th year.
“Coming back is always great because you get to meet friends, people you went to school with,” said Larry.
Larry, a Southern University alum, arrived in New Orleans Wednesday morning from Virginia. Bayou Classic is a tradition for his family.
“I graduated in ’71 so I’ve probably been to about 45 of them,” said Larry.
Family tradition like his is what city leaders say is part of the charm that hangs over days of festivities.
“No one else has an event like this, not based on HBCU’s,” said Vice President of external affairs and membership at New Orleans and Company Kevin Ferguson. “We want people to go out and celebrate that, enjoy it.”
Ferguson says the matchup between Southern and Grambling universities is a rivalry that connects three cities.
“For 50 years this city, this community has had a cultural connection with the Bayou Classic,” said Ferguson. “Even though those schools are in Grambling and in Baton Rouge, New Orleans is a part of that family with the Bayou Classic.”
Whether you dress in blue and gold or black and gold, the city of New Orleans sees green.
“From our end this is something that will fill our restaurants, our hotels, provide shifts for the 80,000 people that work in our industry but it’s so much more than that for the city,” said Ferguson.
Whether it’s the fan festival, the battle of the bands, or just reuniting with old friends and perhaps making some new ones, celebrating in the Big Easy, is ‘easy.’
“Coming down, being part of the festivities, enjoying New Orleans and the environment at atmosphere is always a great thing and that’s what we do when we come down here,” said Larry.
A Thanksgiving Day parade kicks Bayou Classic festivities off. The parade begins at 3 p.m. outside the Caesars Superdome.
You can find a full list of events here.
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