It’s a stretch (and a cliché) to say the magic is back. Yet certainly a rabbit—or more appropriately, a bulldog—appeared from the depths of discord on Monday evening and returned stability, civility, and at least a modicum of tranquility to the Magic City Classic, the storied rivalry between in-state HBCUs Alabama State and Alabama A&M played annually at Birmingham’s historic Legion Field.

After nearly a year of contentious negotiations, and recent weeks when A&M’s reluctance to sign a contract with the Alabama Sports Council (ASC), the non-profit entity that oversees production of the event, appeared to put the Classic in jeopardy, the two parties have signed a four-year agreement that runs through 2026.

The contract, signed copies of which were obtained by AL.com, essentially duplicates the agreement signed by Alabama State in April. It guarantees A&M $1 million in 2024 and 2026 when the Bulldogs are designated as the home team, and $300,000 in 2023 and 2025 when they are visitors. (ASU’s agreement slips those figures and years.)

Combined with the $500,000 annually each institution will also receive from the City of Birmingham, per contracts signed earlier this year, the average annual payout for each school over the four years will be $1.15 million, the highest guarantee among any HBCU football event, according to Perren King, Executive Director of the Classic.

“The guarantee is higher than some FBS bowl game payouts,” King said. “We applaud the presidents for being extremely thoughtful in achieving the best outcome for their constituencies.”

The A&M agreement is essentially the same proposal presented to it on Friday, September 15, with an additional $200,000 provided to the school in 2023 (up from $100,000), some new provisions (such as ASC agreeing to meet with A&M officials “four times each year to discuss planning for” the Classic), and a few tweaks in legal language.

The Alabama State agreement with ASC is being slightly revised so terms in each contract are identical.

Gene Hallman, CEO of Eventive, which produces the Classic for ASC, says the agreement “bolsters the long-standing consistency and continuity we’ve had since 2000.”

“A big step,” is how Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight termed the signing. “Every year it seems like it gets a little bit more controversial, and it shouldn’t be. It is a classic game. It produces a lot of benefits for the city and the county. It’s a good deal for all of us.”

Thus ends a torturous 10 months between A&M and ASC, ASU, and the City of Birmingham.

Last October, ASU defeated A&M 24-17 in the 2022 Classic, the final encounter covered under a four-year agreement between the parties. Days later a group convened to discuss parameters of a new contract, including whether the institutions could produce the game on their own without ASC. Also on the table: Should the game remain at historic yet aging Legion Field on Birmingham’s westside or move to Protective Stadium downtown?

Among those in the room were ASU President Dr. Quinton Ross, A&M President Daniel Wims, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, along with Gene Hallman and Perren King, representing ASC and Eventive, the company hired to produce the event, including selling sponsorships.

Between 2016 and 2021 the payout for each school, based on figures provided by the ASC, averaged $739,581. Last year, the payout was about $880,000. (The amounts include money paid to the schools by the city, along with a portion of sponsorships and ticket sales.)

The presidents shared their desire to raise the payout to $1.5 million per institution, and for a deeper, transparent look at the ASC financials pertaining to the Classic to ensure ASC and A&M were receiving an equitable share of the event’s proceeds.

In November, Ross and Wims ended the handwringing and speculation over the game’s future locale. “Our preference is to remain at Legion Field,” Ross said. “Let’s put that to rest.”

“There are several things that have to be worked out before it comes to a final conclusion, it’s not a simple process,” added Wims, “but it is our intent to try to maintain that eighty-plus-year tradition in Birmingham at least for the next few years at Legion Field and I think we both agree on that.”

Later that month, Woodfin presented to the City Council a proposal to pay each institution $500,000 annually to remain at Legion Field through 2026. Prior payouts from the city were $400,000 (2022), $375,000 (2021), $350,000 (2020), $325,000 (2019), and $212,500 (2018).

Two weeks later, the Council approved the mayor’s proposal. “This investment has a sincere positive return for our citizens,” Woodfin said before the vote. “We [the administration and university presidents] are committed to grow this and make it the best HBCU classic, not only in the nation but in the world. I’m glad the contract is extended for four years and glad that it’s being played at Legion Field.”

“The Magic City Classic is a special event that is synonymous with Birmingham and Legion Field,” added Councilor Clinton Woods that day. “I’m excited about the decision made by the schools to continue for another four years. Anyone who has attended this event can attest to how special it really is.”

The glow of the moment didn’t last long, however, as it became clear Ross and Mims were drawing different conclusions about continuing to align with ASC (and Eventive) to oversee operations and sponsorship sales for the game.

After more than five months of arduous, testy, and at times tenuous negotiations, Alabama State signed new four-year agreements with both The City of Birmingham and ASC in April.

Alabama A&M officials, however, would not pick up a pen. Indeed, also in April, the university requested significant revisions in both agreements, an action one event official said might have “dire consequences” for the 2023 Classic.

In a letter to Woodfin dated April 18, 2023, A&M General Counsel Rochelle A. Conley wrote that the university found “unreasonable” a provision in the agreement with the city restricting either school from entering into an agreement with a third party regarding the location of the Classic for ninety days following the 2026 game.

In hindsight, the objection may have hinted at A&M’s later efforts to engage another entity to “promote” the institution for the 2023 game.

Indeed, in a letter to Hallman, also dated April 18, 2023, Conley wrote: “At this time, and based upon our current level of understanding, we would feel comfortable moving forward with a two (2) year rather than four (4) year term.”

Responding in an email, Perren King, VP Amateur Sports for Eventive, wrote: “In the highest form of transparency, time is what has my team the most concerned as we sit here without the ability to act on behalf of the event. To be very candid, getting started on an event of this magnitude being this far behind could have dire consequences for the 2023 Magic City Classic.”

In May, Alabama A&M announced it had formed a task force to oversee game-day operations for “major” games. Its aim, according to a release issued by the institution, is “reimagining how game-day operations can be more impactful and advantageous” with a “plan to secure regional and national sponsors and other promotional activities.”

Talks, however, continued between A&M and ASC, including a meeting in Huntsville on August 25, after which Perrin and Hallman said they would produce a new proposed agreement based on the discussion. It was sent on Thursday, September 14.

The contract was sent after the Jefferson County Commission that day approved an extension to its one-year commitment to provide funds to ASC on behalf of the Classic. After providing $500,000 in 2023, it passed a resolution to provide $400,000 to the Classic in perpetuity from funds generated by Internet taxes.

The following Monday, A&M responded with a cease-and-desist letter ASC, demanding it no longer use A&M’s “well-known trademarks” and photos depicting the institution’s mascot or players in any efforts to promote or sell sponsorships to the event.

The letter incensed public officials.

“I reached out to [A&M] President [Daniel] Wims to express my disappointment in this form of correspondence,” Woodfin said at the time. “Timing is everything and we are five weeks before Classic. This doesn’t fit the tenor of good faith or relationships. To be clear this back and forth hurts the brand of the Classic and what we have built for more than 80 years. Alumni of both institutions want and deserve a Classic we can all be proud of.”

Alabama State Senate Minority leader Sen. Bobby Singleton added: “I’m very disappointed at this point with Alabama A&M’s stand in this negotiation. I don’t understand it.”

In recent weeks, A&M twice said it had retained a company to “promote” its participation in the Classic, though each time the company denied it had an agreement with the school.

Despite the missteps, it appeared clear A&M officials were not wholly in accord about aligning with ASC for another four years. However, over the last week, talks, though sometimes tenuous, continued between A&M and ASC officials.

Numerous “deadlines” passed until finally, late Monday afternoon, the parties found common ground and each signed the agreement.

The 82nd renewal of the ASU/AAMU rivalry will be played on Saturday, October 28th.