Cash Cow For Gulf Coast Classic

The price tag for the annual Gulf Coast Classic college football game could jump by more than 1000%

Last year, the city paid out 40,000 for the match up between Alabama State University and Southern University. This year, Mayor Sam Jones is proposing to increase that budget to 450,000!

He says the game will become a true classic and offer 3 days worth of activities. He believes it will attract thousands of new visitors and get a commitment from both teams. "Historically black universities have classics not bowl games and that's what this is. Our goal is to draw at least 45 thousand to Mobile and we think it can draw that if it becomes a true classic."

Councilwoman Connie Hudson is not convinced that this is the best way to spend city money. "I was shocked that the administration would recommend that sort of an increase with these times. You hear the administration talking about how we don't have capacity to fund things. We don't have capacity to fund this classic over 1-thousand percent increase. It's disturbing."

The city council is scheduled to vote on their budget at Tuesday's meeting. The cash for the classic is in that budget.

The Director of the Gulf Coast Classic told News 5 that if the city doesn't approve the additional money, Southern University might not come to Mobile this year to play. The game is slated for November 15th.