For more than four decades the Circle City Classic has been Indianapolis’ premier celebration of Black culture, drawing crowds from across the nation to watch HBCU football, enjoy a parade, and hear legendary bands. This year the Indiana Black Expo (IBE) is revamping the event to feature local high‑school football teams instead of college squads, a change aimed at keeping the tradition alive for younger generations.
Why the change?
Edward Rogers, senior director of community initiatives for IBE, explained that rising travel and hotel costs have made bringing HBCU teams to Indianapolis increasingly expensive. “When we looked at whether the Circle City Classic was sustainable, we really had to consider the economic factors,” he said. Rogers added that the organization is listening to community feedback and trying to “re‑imagine” the Classic to appeal to Generation Z and Alpha.
What’s on the schedule?
The September 25‑26 weekend will still include the classic parade, a college fair, and the beloved Battle of the Bands, featuring ensembles from Florida A&M, Grambling State, Kentucky State, Talladega College and Miles College. The football portion, however, will showcase Indiana’s top high‑school programs. On September 26, Crispus Attucks, Lawrence North, Ben Davis, Pike, Warren Central and Arsenal Tech will face off at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Heavynne Beard, quarterback of Lawrence North’s girls flag‑football team, expressed excitement about playing on a professional field. “It’s a big stage. There’s probably not going to be that many people there but it’s still big to us, and I’m ready,” she said.
Her head coach, Donny Mimms, echoed the sentiment, noting that this will be the first time his program competes on a pro‑football venue. “We’re honored to represent something so iconic in the city of Indianapolis,” he said.
Community roots remain strong
Long‑time Classic attendee Michael Bluitt, 75, has not missed a single event in 35 years, even attending the 2020 edition when the HBCU game was cancelled due to the pandemic. Bluitt said the Classic has always been a place where “people were coming from all over the country to partake in a nice weekend… being around a lot of Black people.” He remains optimistic about the new format, calling it “brilliant” and noting that many classic events across the Midwest are struggling.
Rogers said the IBE will continue to feature HBCU presence through the parade, the college fair and the Battle of the Bands, and is also planning a pivot to HBCU basketball in 2027. The organization is still evaluating whether football will return next year, depending on attendance and community response.
Looking ahead
Rogers emphasized that the future of the Circle City Classic hinges on community support. “Support us and all that we’re looking to do for the Circle City Classic. We need the continued support from the community. Without it we can’t continue,” he said.
Local residents are encouraged to attend the events, purchase tickets, and spread the word. The full schedule is available on the IBE website.
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
