This year hasn't been the best, but next year already is looking good, because there will be two Bayou Classics played in 2021.
The 47th Annual Bayou Classic will happen - but in Shreveport and in April.
The date will be Saturday, April 17, 2021, the location Independence Stadium in Shreveport. Officials say more details regarding the Bayou Classic will be released at a future date. And, plans already are underway to hold the 48th Annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans in November 2021.
The annual game in which Southern University and Grambling University face off is not just a football game, but a social, business networking and political connection-building event. It is played during the regular college football season, in New Orleans. Football aside, the Bayou Classic also is a showcase for two of the best marching bands in the United States.
However, the SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors decided to postpone fall sports contests, and that means it will be played this coming spring, officials announced Monday.
At a press conference, Bayou Classic organizers joined with school leadership from both Grambling State University and Southern University and A&M College, Mayor Adrian D. Perkins of Shreveport and Shreveport-Bossier’s Sports Commission to announce the decision.
Due to the substantial scope of the Phase 2 renovation work to begin in January 2021 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, the annual home of the Bayou Classic, this rescheduled annual matchup between the Grambling Tigers and the Southern Jaguars had to be temporarily moved to another location. This is a one-time, temporary move of location, similar to 2005 following Hurricane Katrina when the Bayou Classic was played in Houston, organizers say.
“The Bayou Classic is a long-standing tradition that we are excited to have come to Shreveport. We are proud to be a part of ensuring the continuity of this game that spans decades,” said Mayor Perkins. “Southern and Grambling both have a rich history that is woven through families across this state. Alumni and fans in North Louisiana will be thrilled to see the Jaguars and Tigers battle in Independence Stadium.”
Independence Stadium is owned by the City of Shreveport and is the home of the Independence Bowl, a post-season National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game.
