Why Birmingham Park Board Voted to Increase Price of Tailgating at the Magic City Classic

By J.T. Moore | Special to the Times An Opinion J.T. Moore represents Birmingham City Council District 4. Let’s be honest … There are not very many occasions in America where over 200,000 people get together for The Culture and throw one of the best parties you will ever go to. It’s Beautiful. It’s Inspiring. It’s Welcoming to All. It’s the Magic City Classic. Birmingham is in many ways the embodiment of Black excellence; we’re a spotlight to the rest of the world signaling how much progress we can make together in a single lifetime. And as much as we love our sports here, the Magic City Classic is more than a football game, it’s a celebration of our City, the rich cultural heritage of the people who live here, and most importantly it reverberates with the spirit of what Birmingham represents to the world. Obviously, the week leading up to the Classic is an economic boon for the city. Each year we see upwards of $30 million being spent at local restaurants, hotels, and stores throughout town. It’s also helped create partnerships between local businesses, organizations, and government agencies, which strengthen the foundation for collaboration and innovation in Birmingham’s...