Las Vegas Football Classic Proving to be a Hot Ticket
Gladys Knight, Steve Harvey and Clint Holmes add Star Power; Web site has 1.7 million Hits

LAS VEGAS – The Inaugural Las Vegas Football Classic, which will pit North Carolina A&T State University against Southern University Sept. 13 at Sam Boyd Stadium, is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated African-American events in the country in 2003. The game between these two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is creating a stir coast-to-coast. In addition to a great football game, the Battle of the Bands and the Vendor Marketplace, stars such as Gladys Knight, Steve Harvey, Clint Holmes and the Neville Brothers will perform at various events.

Both Knight and Holmes, long-time supporters of HBCUs, will open the festivities Sept. 13 as Knight will sing “Lift Every Voice,” widely acknowledged as the Black National Anthem, while Holmes will sing the “Star Spangled Banner,” prior to kick-off. Harvey will perform at the Thomas & Mack Center Friday, Sept. 12 after the Battle of the Bands (separate ticket), while the Neville Brothers will perform at the post-game party Sept. 13. Knight will also sing the national anthem at the Las Vegas Football Classic Battle of the Bands Friday, Sept. 12 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“The support that we have received for this game has just been phenomenal and to have Ms. Knight and Mr. Holmes ask to participate, is just unbelievable,” said Jonathan Simon, executive director of the Las Vegas Football Classic. “What they stand for and their actions through the years have been a feather in the cap of (HBCUs).

“To now have Steve Harvey performing at the Thomas and Mack Friday, in addition to the Neville Brothers, this is now a must-attend event. The Web site and the phone lines are constantly busy.”

As of Friday, August 1, vegasfootballclassic.com has received 1.7 million hits.

Other events include the Classic Kick-off Party Sept. 11, the Celebrity Golf Tournament at Silver Stone Golf Course Sept. 12 to benefit the NAACP, the Vegas “After Dark” Concert, the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competition Saturday and the Pre-game Tailgate Jam at Sam Boyd Stadium.

For fans traveling to the classic, the Stardust Hotel will be the official team hotel of the North Carolina A&T team, Rio/Harrah’s will be the team hotel of the Southern team and Southern alumni. Fans should make reservations now, as special deals will expire August 13.

To learn more about the Las Vegas Football Classic weekend, visit vegasfootballclassic.com or call 702-804-5529.

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